An Ending

A last few photos of myself and my work from the day of the final performance.

A true selfie, rather than mirrored, with my work.

It's still hard to believe how well everyone responded to the Confidence Confessional. Though the piece is now down, I hope viewers will remember whenever they look in a mirror that the reflection is of someone worthwhile.

A last look of the closed confessional, hashtag prompt on top.

Now the work is down, and the Art Alley is being cleaned. For a short while even after removal, a mark remains. It's hard to see in the photos, but an outline of the mirrors can still be seen on the wall - it is sun fading, or smudge from all the people who have leaned close while the work hung? I'd like to think the latter.

The curtains / selfie controversy

Curtain One had the following printed on it:

SELF-CONFIDENCE: confidence in oneself and in one's powers and abilities

CONFIDENCE: a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed; being certain

DENIGRATE: to say very critical and often unfair things, to make seem less valuable

IDENTITY: the qualities, etc., that make a particular person different from others

                Some contributors: Personality, Beliefs, Actions, Appearance

WHAT DO YOU LET DEFINE YOUR IDENTITY?

CONVERSATION OPENER: an introduction used to begin a conversation

COMPLIMENT: an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration

-                        -  State a fact

-                        -  Ask a question

-                        -  Ask an opinion

WHAT CONVERSATION WILL YOU HAVE WITH YOURSELF?

Curtain Two, the following:

SELFIE: a type of self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or phone, usually associated with social networking

                SELF-AFFIRMATION: something affirmed by oneself

AFFIRM: to say that something is true in a confident way

TO SAY, I AM PROUD.

                CENSORSHIP: the system or practice of censoring

CENSORING: to remove and / or regulate things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society, etc.

TO ASK, AM I ALLOWED TO BE WHO I AM?

WHICH ONE DO MOST SELFIES DO? WHICH ONE WILL YOUR SELFIE DO?

curtain one on the left, curtain two on the right

My goal with the text on the curtains was to promote viewers to think about what it meant to look in the mirror and see someone worth complimenting. If they could see in their reflection someone worthwhile, they could build their confidence by confessing that they are indeed worth everything.

The controversy on selfies (as affirmation or censorship) was definitely on my mind in relation to the piece. An article summarizing the controversy (written after my work was complete) put my motivations very well by saying: "If your impulse is to gravitate towards the negative, think about yourself as a stranger. You wouldn't insult a stranger for no reason, so treat yourself with the same kindness and unbiased perspective." (http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/04/selfies-as-self-love/)

Mirrored Selfie Maddness

My selfies from when I was inside the confessional as part of Out of Here's final performance.

I said, "You did it, and should be proud!"

The Confidence Confessional in Performance

My work was a part of Out of Here's final performance. We artists stood behind the curtain to compliment ourselves and take our own selfies, then came out of the confessional to hear from each other some aspect of our identities that we admired, respected, and were grateful to have learned about each other. The performance expanded the self-love goal of the curtains to hear love from friends.

Photos of the performance:

Jeanne

Amy

Putting your hands up makes you feel happy!

Nouf

Farima 

Leslie

Hyunji

Veronica

Karen, our leader, teacher, friend

Responses close-ups

People had a lot to say to themselves from an outside view. Below are a few of the responses I could get decent photos of. Apologies for the phone / person in the background. Focus on the marker - the writers' words are important.

tired eyes can say a lot

"Stop worrying."

"Awesome"

PSU pride!
"WE ARE PENN STATE"

"You are enough."

"You are loved more for you [than you] think you are :) "

"say yes more"

"The past cannot define you!"

"forgive and forget"

"No matter what struggle you face in life, there is always a happy ending <3"

"You're Amazing"

"Don't compromise with yourself to please someone else"

"You are special & loved"

"smile more"

"She is clothed in strength and growth. She can laugh at the days to come"

"stop APOLOGIZING"

"don't worry you're beautiful"

"Stop beating yourself. It's okay!"

"Don't Stop Smiling!"

"I Love You"

"Let It Go - Frozen"

"Let It Go - Lion King"

"STAY STRONG"

"You are not alone."

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game =) "

"You're better than you think you are"

So many responses!

Look how much viewers have written! Close-ups of some of the responses coming.

The creation

concept sketch

curtain 1 in progress

curtain 1

installation!

before any writing appears: the work's first selfie

Art-Making Goals

Confidence Confessional

materials: mirror, bobby pins, dry erase markers
                 curtain rod (provided), printed curtains

ideas: empathetic listening, self-confidence, compliments, conversation openers, discrimination, selfies (empowering (pride) or constraining (seeking approval)?). identity: selected, ascribed, enforced

marker placement: pocket in curtains - written on curtain: please use this.

laser-print iron-ons for words on curtain
grey-ish curtain with red letters

Mirror Work

Wiki: How to Cut Mirrors

Art Ideas / Influences: Mirrors

it doesn't need to be square

it doesn't need to be one piece

- wall mounted or stand alone? framed?
- draw on the mirror or cut the mirror?
- allowing others to put the mirror together; to write on the mirror?
- compliments? what would you say to yourself if you were someone else?

Frameless mirrors: Amazon oval, Amazon square

From class discussion:
- Behind curtains (closet), what are the curtains made of? Material, writing?
-A silhouette for selfie to be taken in, made of the Farima's she-writing

Selected, Ascribed, Enforced