This installation which is really without a title, has been referred to by many, 'Difficult Dialogues', for lack of one.  It is a visual response to having heard Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, speak.  Her appearance was sponsored by Bunker Hill Community College through a program called Difficult Dialogues.

I spearheaded the trip to the event, in April 2016.   This precipitated a collaboration around America's enduring issue of racism, and how it keeps costing people of color quality of life, and in far too many instances, their very lives!

The funeral scene below represents the death of the many people of color, at the hand of law enforcement.  The crucifix bares an almost invisible wire etched black hoodie.  The slider card, which sat in the opening of the casket, was an invitation for viewer interaction.  When the string was pulled, a pair of infant feet and a pair of young feet with a toe tag, would slide out of either side.  This was to point to the lives being cut short at the hand of America's racist systems.  

This was the first iteration.  It was on display at Massachusetts College of Art & Design, in the Design & Media Center [Room D306]

The klansmen who lurk in the shadows, represent racist mentality and behaviors. Behaviors that lie behind the many acquittals of white police officers, who murder unarmed people of color.

The next iteration:

In August of 2016, one of the 3 collaborators responded to a call for art, without notifying the other 2 of us, until it was time to install.  Most of the elements were store at my home, so he got started with what he had in his possession.  In the nook between MassArt's South building, and its Design and Media Center, he installed the 4 Klansmen!  Without the context of the other elements, the installation in progress was left to the interpretation of passers by ... AND THEY WENT BANANAS!!!  There was no shortage of backlash on social media and on our message board at the art piece!  A student passing by even went as far as defacing one of the klansmen! [Something that is understood is, that we NEVER vandalize or even TOUCH without permission, someone else's artwork!].

The idea that something that pissed so many people off, was very productive, is counterintuitive, but wrapped tautly in truth!  

Many classes took field trips down to the exhibit for discussion!  The whole school felt something, and was forced to think about racism, how far is too far in art, censorship, why the images of racism are more appalling, than racism itself...  

A Call To Comment...

The exhibition was called Shots Fired!

Just below is what the installation looked like completed.  The only thing missing is the klan. It was present, but within proximity, not conducive to cohesiveness (Still too much room for misinterpretation!).   It would've been ideal for ALL collaborators to hash out a way to get our intended message across, in this new space.

In this iteration the hoodie was reworked to be more visible.  Also, based on a U.S. military tradition, the tattered, upside-down flag at the base of the casket, represents distress.

Young Feet [detail]

Difficult Dialogue In Action

One collaborator was incredibly uncomfortable with the backlash, as seen in the comment above.  The other collaborator removed the klansmen in response, as seen in the notice below. 

For me (the Black Girl), the vision was incomplete without the presence of the klan to represent an existing mentality in America.  Below, I notified viewers that the klan would return to the installation.  Some were disenchanted!

"My artwork will be landscapes and flowers when my people can feel safe and at home in the America they've carried on their backs!"

- Lisa Lee 

Some viewers got it!

Some people get it!