Black and White- oil on canvas, nails, computer text on paper, acylic

artists note- this small piece was the springboard for a series I am currently developing on perceived social identity and skin color. I believe in the intricate diversity of each individual human being, and I find it horrifying and fascinating how we categorize ourselves and each other by color. I am using a variety of media and performances to explore the social concepts of race, identity, culture, ethnicity, and social categorization as it relates to skin color.

What is expected, what is considered desirable, undesirable, and how we categorize each other and ourselves based on skin color are all subjects of exploration. Products to darken or lighten, brown paper bags (from the era of the paper bag test), paint, performance, makeup, , digital alteration, questionnaires, interviews.. all these media will help me to explore and expose these ideas.