Walking on Eggshells
LIFE-SIZED CHILDREN’S CLOTHING - MIXED MEDIA - COTTON, SILK, EGGSHELLS, ELECTRIC LIGHT
The creation of these pieces allowed me to poke around in my soul and personal history, seeking answers, clarity, and healing from the childhood trauma I experienced. This trauma made me hypervigilant, constantly watching for danger to strike, which led me to learn how to "walk on eggshells." As an adult, I've sought ways to reconcile the challenges of loving my parents with their own life struggles and to find a safe and stable foundation for the rest of my life to unfold.
I choose organic materials like cotton, silk, and eggshells for the clothing because I find them more tangible, beautiful, and connected to nature than synthetic alternatives. These clothing pieces represent all children who have navigated childhoods where they developed coping mechanisms to deal with adults in their lives facing addiction issues, mental health struggles, and other difficulties that put them in challenging situations where they had to “walk on eggshells.” Additionally, these lightweight materials sway gently in the air as viewers move through the installation, taking on a bit of life of their own. The translucency and electric light create a sense of energy that animates each piece with something resembling a ghostly soul mourning the early loss of innocence.
One of the things that got me through such a challenging childhood was some of the supporting people in my life, including my paternal grandparents, a few caring teachers, and some of my close friends and their parents. I've found myself collecting one of the primary materials of these pieces – eggshells – from friends and family because it's taken such a surprising number of eggshells to make each piece. It's hard to imagine overcoming all life's challenges without others' help. Thanks to those who've helped me to smooth off the edges of my fears and make the world a more comfortable, supportive, and creative place to live.
Image credit (at the top of this webpage) - Second Floor Media.
