Researcher(s)
- Josephine Bradley, Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Brandan Henry, Art, University of Delaware
Abstract
It can seem like the world is falling apart when the news is dominated by negativity. The current political climate of our country has been in shambles for a while now. The country has been divided on many issues that surround our daily lives, forcing people to voice their opinion and take a stand–an environment that served as the foundation for my research. Protests have been popping up all over our nation and all over the world which gave me the opportunity to photograph and interview people who are actively participating in this moment.
Documenting protests and listening to people’s stories has been an eye-opening experience. I have found that many Americans are upset and dissatisfied by policies and actions that they believe are beyond their control. Many of them feel that our constitutional rights are being ignored, prompting more and more protests across our nation. Talking to people in person and doing a digital interview method have yielded similar results, all of which had an influence on the painting for this project.
The painting I am developing will encapsulate the sentiment of the people navigating this moment in history and capture the perspectives of those challenged by the executive orders blanketing our country. The piece provides a chaotic visual of articles surrounding a distressed person with the American flag subtly peeking through the layers.