Titled “Where Is Your Fire?” after the poem by Sonia Sanchez, this installation was a part of 2022 Ojai Jail Arts Initiative. The curators asked artists to respond to the historical jail in Ojai, CA. Although this jail is no longer in use, I saw it as a representation of the prison industrial complex and a symbol of oppression. In an effort to humanize the space and reclaim it as one of healing, I decided to create a series of ceramic and resin vessels built from casts of my face to use as containers for living plants and dried flowers. The ceramic vessels pay homage to the potential an individual holds and the infinite ways we can grow, evolve, and redefine ourselves. I sought to bring warmth and life into the jail by highlighting a human’s resilience and power. I desired to subvert the space’s oppressive energy into one that can leave the audience feeling empowered and hopeful.

Installation Photos Taken By Elizabeth Herring.