MOCA GA
Atlanta, GA. July 2017.
Salt of the Earth: an individual or group considered as representative of the best or noblest elements of society." - Random House, Inc.
Salt of the Earth premiered during the opening reception of Building a Ship from the Shipwreck a Walthall Fellowship group exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Georgia.
I started with this phrase, and imagined a place where worth or worthiness had no meaning. A place where we are all the same, capable of the same and made of the same. Decent and indecent, we lived our lives in true dasein. Where experiences leaves a legacy, focused on the concept that we existed, and not who existed.
Salt of the Earth took the subjectification out of all materials present, (including humans) and created a surreal landscape that was beautiful and honest in the moment. Every single object and material used in the work had clear and connected symbologies to the concept.
I used materials that are considered worthless and cheap along with materials of value to simulate the duality of social value compared to material. Gold and lace were saturated in salt, worn by three individuals in golden crushed velvet. Other salted adornments were independently selected to be worn by each performer. These crystalized pieces informed ideas of royalty and sophistication. The simulated environment consisted of cheap red fill dirt with dorodango balls made out of the same material and salt rings poured from different grades of salt. The performers convened and workshopped movements based on four stages of their life with guidance from me. These movement stages were revealed in half hour sections over the course of two hours.
After the performance, the floor installation became both environment for and remnant of the performance that took place during the opening reception. All clothing and adornments were placed carefully in the space to symbolize; that though life is impermanent, change and impact are inevitable. Like ripples or foot prints, we create and recreate the world.
What would it look like to be worth our salt?