UNEMPLOYED

American men are, stereotypically, the breadwinners – they dutifully and eagerly wear the white shirt of professionalism and economic activity. Psychology tells us that men’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem is more closely tied to economic status than women’s. When men find themselves jobless, they may experience feelings of insecurity, despair, and worthlessness - as if they have been trodded on, their identities dragged through the streets.

To create this piece, I tied this shirt to my ankle every time I went into public space, allowing it to trail behind me down subway stairs, in grocery aisles and parks, and across bridges, using the public as a form of embellishment upon a sterling symbol of male professionalism. Once it became torn, I repaired it with colored thread as a signifier of the inevitable potential for self-repair and healing after trauma.

Completed in 2018