Why don't you smile, Girl?

This collaborative and social practice artwork seeks to bring attention to the unsettling and intrusive nature of catcalling that many female-identifying individuals and members of the LGBTQ+ community experience in public spaces. This piece serves as a powerful representation of the gendered and biased nature of public street harassment and the impact it has on an individual's sense of safety, autonomy, and self-worth.

I sought to create an enduring representation of the lasting impact that street harassment has on these communities by engraving the harassment on found pieces of 4x4. Each piece of wood stands erect and is battered and scarred. The choice of burning the text into the wood serves as a poignant metaphor for the indelible mark left on the psyche of those who have experienced street harassment. The act of burning serves as a visceral representation of the emotional toll. The scars, like the burnt text, become an integral part of a person's narrative, shaping their perception of self and the world around them. This is a social justice piece. By sharing these experiences I hope to create a world where everyone can move through public spaces free from fear and degradation.