Sustained Investigation Series
The purpose of my sustained investigation is to investigate the connection between the exploitation and the degradation of the natural world and the subordination and oppression of women with a focus on the influence of a male dominated society on both issues.  In each series I am exploring two main questions: How has the role of women changed as we start to see the environment change as a result of human impact? Is there a cause and effect between women and the environment?  There is typically a third question that I also aim to answer in my work but that question is more exclusive to the topic of the piece.
My biggest challenge during my sustained was coming up with my compositions for each artwork.  I was able to easily identify an issue I wanted to solve with each piece but I often struggled to conceptually portray my idea.  Another challenge I had was writing about my work in a way to get connect my piece and my thoughts.  Lastly, I struggled with maintaining a level of realism in my work. 
    
My aha moment was when we did a group critique where we videoed ourselves and looked at most of our work all together.  I was surprised by what my peers had to say about my work and I found the experience to be uplifting.  I was told that my work looked cohesive and clearly conveyed my message, hearing this feedback made me really happy because I had felt slightly lost.  After this critique I felt inspired to continue my investigation into ecofeminism. 
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"Hear Our Voice" | 9" x 12" | Acrylic on Canvas | This piece is inspired by the connection between the MeToo movement and wildfires. Both spread rapidly and have cause a great impact.
"Hear Our Voice" | 9" x 12" | Acrylic on Canvas | This piece is inspired by the connection between the MeToo movement and wildfires. Both spread rapidly and have cause a great impact.
"Girls Run the World" | 9" x 12" | Acrylic on Seed Paper and Cut Seed Paper | This piece was inspired by the climate change advocate Greta Thunberg and the world leaders she faces when giving speeches. I am showing how sexism is prevalent amongst world leaders who feel threatened by Greta’s popularity and truth.  I want to show how their comments are a disgusting display of misogyny.  Greta is planting positive seeds within society and world leaders are planting negative seeds right behind her to negate her opinion and influence.
"Girls Run the World" | 9" x 12" | Acrylic on Seed Paper and Cut Seed Paper | This piece was inspired by the climate change advocate Greta Thunberg and the world leaders she faces when giving speeches. I am showing how sexism is prevalent amongst world leaders who feel threatened by Greta’s popularity and truth. I want to show how their comments are a disgusting display of misogyny. Greta is planting positive seeds within society and world leaders are planting negative seeds right behind her to negate her opinion and influence.
"Effects of Plastic" | 14" x 14" | Acrylic on Canvas | This piece is inspired by the harmful effects of plastic on both humans and the environment.  This piece is especially reflecting how plastic has a more harmful effect on women.
"Effects of Plastic" | 14" x 14" | Acrylic on Canvas | This piece is inspired by the harmful effects of plastic on both humans and the environment. This piece is especially reflecting how plastic has a more harmful effect on women.
"Oppression of Many" | 8" x 14" | Oil on Canvas | ​This piece represents the relationship between man and nature. This piece was inspired by the Australian Prime Minister who belittled a woman for not providing relief to her town in wake of the Australian bush fires.  I want to show how if man and nature work together then the over all health of our will increase.
"Oppression of Many" | 8" x 14" | Oil on Canvas | ​This piece represents the relationship between man and nature. This piece was inspired by the Australian Prime Minister who belittled a woman for not providing relief to her town in wake of the Australian bush fires. I want to show how if man and nature work together then the over all health of our will increase.
"Two Sides to Every Story" | 16" x 24" | Acrylic on Canvas | This piece reflects two versions of mother nature that society has created.  On one hand, society perceives mother nature as a beautiful woman who controls the growth of all the flora and fauna of our earth; on the other hand, society has created a more modern mother nature, in which she deals with the effects of man-made pollution and climate change.
"Two Sides to Every Story" | 16" x 24" | Acrylic on Canvas | This piece reflects two versions of mother nature that society has created. On one hand, society perceives mother nature as a beautiful woman who controls the growth of all the flora and fauna of our earth; on the other hand, society has created a more modern mother nature, in which she deals with the effects of man-made pollution and climate change.
"Melting Traditions" | 9" x 12" | Acrylic on Canvas | In this painting I am illustrating the effects that climate change has on indigenous women living in arctic communities.
"Melting Traditions" | 9" x 12" | Acrylic on Canvas | In this painting I am illustrating the effects that climate change has on indigenous women living in arctic communities.
"Hanging in There" | 9" x 12" | Acrylic on Canvas | In this piece I wanted to illustrate the abhorrent mistreatment, abuse, and objectification of animals and women throughout society, and how this mistreatment is detrimental to women’s health and the environment.  Women are frequently referenced as a pieces of meat thus dehumanizing them, as well as objectifying their physical traits. My composition reiterates my ideas through the way in which I have portrayed a woman hanging in a butcher shop as a piece of meat, a butcher shop is also a typically masculine profession.
"Hanging in There" | 9" x 12" | Acrylic on Canvas | In this piece I wanted to illustrate the abhorrent mistreatment, abuse, and objectification of animals and women throughout society, and how this mistreatment is detrimental to women’s health and the environment. Women are frequently referenced as a pieces of meat thus dehumanizing them, as well as objectifying their physical traits. My composition reiterates my ideas through the way in which I have portrayed a woman hanging in a butcher shop as a piece of meat, a butcher shop is also a typically masculine profession.
"Extinction" | 8" x 10" | Acrylic on Gesso Board | These two pieces are representative of the relationship between women and animal extinction.  I painted a picture of Tessa Majors, an 18 year old girl, who was murdered this year in a park by three teenage boys.  I also painted a Tiger. I wanted  to show how women experience the same threats as animals and are just as vulnerable to extinction.  Women and animals share similar threats for survival and that is what I want to highlight with these pieces.
"Extinction" | 8" x 10" | Acrylic on Gesso Board | These two pieces are representative of the relationship between women and animal extinction. I painted a picture of Tessa Majors, an 18 year old girl, who was murdered this year in a park by three teenage boys. I also painted a Tiger. I wanted to show how women experience the same threats as animals and are just as vulnerable to extinction. Women and animals share similar threats for survival and that is what I want to highlight with these pieces.
Process Development for Sustained Investigation
Additional Artworks
“A Series of Shadows ” | 24" x 36" | Charcoal on Paper
“A Series of Shadows ” | 24" x 36" | Charcoal on Paper
“The Apocalypse and What Not” | 14" x 24" Pastel and Charcoal on Paper
“The Apocalypse and What Not” | 14" x 24" Pastel and Charcoal on Paper
"New Beginnings" | 16" x 24" | Acrylic and Modeling Paste on Canvas
"New Beginnings" | 16" x 24" | Acrylic and Modeling Paste on Canvas
"Happy Hour" | 16" x 24"| Acrylic on Canvas
"Happy Hour" | 16" x 24"| Acrylic on Canvas
"Italian Evenings" | 9" x 12" | Soft Pastels on Canvas
"Italian Evenings" | 9" x 12" | Soft Pastels on Canvas
"Skinny Dip Falls" | 9" x 12" | Oil Paint and Silver Leaf on Canvas
"Skinny Dip Falls" | 9" x 12" | Oil Paint and Silver Leaf on Canvas
 "The Personal Is Political" | 20" x 32" Collage and Acrylic on Canvas
"The Personal Is Political" | 20" x 32" Collage and Acrylic on Canvas
"Everyday Chaos" | 16" x 24" | Acrylic on Canvas
"Everyday Chaos" | 16" x 24" | Acrylic on Canvas
"Greenbrier Sunsets" | 12" x 16" Oil Paint on Canvas
"Greenbrier Sunsets" | 12" x 16" Oil Paint on Canvas
"A Singular Kat" | 20" x 20" White Charcoal and White Paint on Paper
"A Singular Kat" | 20" x 20" White Charcoal and White Paint on Paper
"Head of a Roman Partition" | 16" x 24" Charcoal on Paper
"Head of a Roman Partition" | 16" x 24" Charcoal on Paper
Over the course of this year, I feel like I have grown tremendously as an artist.  I learned how to write about my art, convey my ideas more conceptually, and how to work with other artists.  I did not know how to properly write about my art before this class but through the research we had to do on our sustained and the form we filled out after each piece, I found the writing to get easier and easier.  I also was very much a traditional painter before this class so choosing ecofeminism as my sustained investigation topic forced me to get out of my comfort zone and explore more thought provoking compositions.  Lastly, I had never experienced the support from other artists that I have experienced in my AP art class.  Everyone gave constructive and positive feedback to my artwork which helped me see things from other people's perspectives, I also made friends with people I had never expected to connect with.  I am thankful that the AP art class brought together such a talented bunch of artists this year and I am happy that they helped me grow.
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Artist website: https://brighidartportfolio.weebly.com/
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