RED, WHITE, AND THE BLUES
The “Red, White, and The Blues” series explores the subject of racial injustice in different forms throughout American history and identity. The artist’s visual response to these tragic events affecting people of color are represented by the color scheme of red, white, and blue only and choosing word play to symbolize her perception of what America demonstrates itself to be — a struggle and a triggering experience of a maze of discrimination, systemic and institutional barriers, incarceration, or death. Despite the promise of life, freedom, and liberty ideology of the American way, it is not equally balanced nor equitable for all.
The micro collection “Kill Them Before They Grow”, a line inspired by Bob Marley’s classic “I Shot The Sheriff”, reflects on the most recent violence against men of color typically under the age of 30. These men whether innocent or guilty to the alleged crimes are not given a fair chance to prove it, and are victims [or targets] of procedures like stop-and-frisk, probable cause, or excessive abuse of authority. The flag is rearranged as a silhouette found in a shooting range. Up close, stars are not what they seem as bullets count the number of times the victim(s) had been reported to be struck while others take on different shapes leading to the circumstances of their death interpreted by the artist.