Artist Statement:
I started working on Phase I on September 22, 2011; this was the morning after Troy Davis was executed. I was furious and exhausted from the night before. During the four hours at the vigil for Troy; I went through feelings of defeat, the potential hope of a delay of execution, the wait for the delayed decision, and the final heartbreak of the Supreme Court to execute this (most likely) innocent man.
I started working on Phase I on September 22, 2011; this was the morning after Troy Davis was executed. I was furious and exhausted from the night before. During the four hours at the vigil for Troy; I went through feelings of defeat, the potential hope of a delay of execution, the wait for the delayed decision, and the final heartbreak of the Supreme Court to execute this (most likely) innocent man.
The next morning I came to the studio, got out the Sumi Ink, and started drawing the candle from the vigil and a portrait of Troy. I used this process as a somewhat cathartic exploration. I began using the ink in a way that expressed how I was feeling. I grabbed large paper and began to combine drips, images, portraits, text; many layers to get out the story.
Throughout this project, I have felt angry, upset, exhausted, frustrated, and negative; as well as feeling hopeful and motivated. I do believe that Troy’s story has motivated me even more to continue to work to abolish the death penalty. I feel even stronger about advocating for the ‘other Troy Davises’. “Tonight we mourn, tomorrow we organize.”
