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Studio Project - In Collaboration with Ivana Saginova & Emma Pompeii
My group and I wanted to explore the unforeseeable nature of natural disasters and the negative impacts it can have on a community. We began our research in Far Rockaway which was heavily affected by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012. Initially we had the mindset of creating a sort of “disaster preparedness kit”; or something you could quickly take with you when disaster strikes. We talked with residents of that area and specifically got in touch with a fellow artist who’s mother was personally impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Wojciech Gilewicz’s couldn’t do much in terms of rebuilding her home but he knew he could relieve some of the stress by painting with her. He said, “How do you help someone who needs 100 hands when you only have two?”
This led us to the conclusion that there will always be plenty of kits and food & water but the lasting emotional impacts are not something that can quickly be bought.
The research of this project was unfortunately in the wake of the California wildfires. We wanted to help and put our research to use so we decided to do a therapy collaging event at The Sunview Luncheonette in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
We also silkscreened t-shirts with a simple collage as well as tote bags with a gingko leaf (a symbol of longevity and profound endurance) and sold them at the event. All profits went to a local community group in California who were providing shelter & food to the displaced people.