Artist Statement for The Dance
A Collaborative Installation at Tennessee State University

I often attempt to involve the community in the artistic process. I am interested in how that involvement shapes an installation and leads to a greater understanding of the nature of art. I also do so to help participants feel as if they have ownership of the work as they realize they have the ability to give a piece their individual stamp. For this installation I worked with more than a dozen students from Tennessee State University. To make the pieces, we molded clothing coated with a stiffening agent around several student models. After the clothing stiffened and took the form of its model, the students carefully escaped, leaving their casts behind.

I think of my work as both installation and interactive event. Although I find creating collaborative works exciting, I do not feel satisfied with the process until viewers have had the opportunity to relate to the finished pieces. The Dance relies on human interaction for its completion. The bits of stiffened clothing hung from the ceiling and placed on the floor allows viewers to mentally assemble their own environment. For me, the work recalls the story of Raggedy Ann, in which the dolls come to life when no one is looking, or rather, seeing

The Dance was created in collaboration with TSU student models Melanie Wilbourn, Ameena Lessner, Diana Wells, Michael Naluz, D'Angelqueat Warren, Jonathan Gray, Christy Smith, Reagan Williams, Allison Ellis, Patrycia Makarucha, Melanie Gordon; and student assistants Wanda Robinson, Joel Batery, Linda Raines, Frank Thompson, Anthony Lewis, Tauheedah Salie, and Lynette Bullock. Students participated under the supervision of TSU art professors Michael McBride and Jane Allen McKinney. Additional collaborators include Dave Piston and Lisa Blazier.