Tuesday, August 31, 2010
My Place
I hail from a place called Biggers Arkansas, Population 360. My familyare Church of Christ going farmers and antique dealers. Thankfully my mother and her little brother are both working artists, making my childhood much more colorful than most kids around me.
When I was about 5 me and my 15 year old uncle would load my sisters Barbie bus full of “people” and push it down a steep hill. Then we would go count survivors and document injuries. He also introduces me to Super Nentendo, Bloody Mary, and fire. Being an artist himself he often held mandatory drawing classes in my living room. But my segregate older brother soon had his own life. After his first car I saw much less of him.
Being the eldest of five children, four girls, one boy puts me in a strange position. Most of the time my youngest sister was more like my daughter. And when I wasn’t mothering, I was being mothered by my mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother. Five generations of women arguing constantly. I felt like I was drowning in people.
I moved to Memphis 3 years ago, population 670,100 and I have never felt more alone in my life. I was terrified. With all the alone time I could focus on myself and figure out who I am. When I started Mca it gave me the freedom to experiment with my identity. Now I just say, “I’m an art student.” Then I hear, “Ooohh, well that explains it.” Or, “Ok, that makes sense.”
Recently I’ve been exploring other cultures and religions. I research and observe but wearing someone else’s clothes is an experience. Placing myself in others shoes helps me understand their choices and learn more about my place in the world.
