Wild Hair

My object of inquiry and main artistic muse is human hair. Through a research-based interdisciplinary practice, I am investigating hair as an art material. I am drawn to connect with hair as an energetic object, a vibrant material made of human cells, one that retains the energy of its human host even after it is physically disconnected. Using the techniques of stop motion animation, solar printing, assemblage, and interdisciplinary craft, I explore methods for collaborating with and expressing the vital energy of hair, as defined by Jane Bennett in the book Vibrant Matter. Hair has been widely used in ritual and art throughout history and possesses a supernatural potential. It also carries immense social and political weight. With this in mind, I approach this work with care and conscientiousness. In this practice, I draw upon the spiritualist movement, my matrilineage of craft, the histories of craftspeople who have also worked with hair in the production of ritual objects, and my generous hair donors.