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