Artist Statement:

Artist Residency - Gallery 224 Studios <> Alice M Waraxa Artist Statement Tools, Weapons and Clothing are used to analyze ancient societies. Lost cultures have been reconstructed from the fragments of human life that have been left behind. Many cultures can be analyzed from the clothing that they wore, the adornments they collect, and even the fibers and materials that they were made from. Today’s fashion is digestible, it is widely accessible and it is a language that we use to visually communicate to each other. Fashion can be timeless but it can be used to date us specifically. Fashion is a visual medium that humans, throughout history, have used to express themselves. It is used as a way to create a community, make a statement and even start a social revolution. I will use the language of fashion to begin a conversation about the destruction of our environment. I will do this by creating visually distinct photographic images that will have an impact on the viewer. The large viewership of the Fashion Industry can allow me access to a larger population and the widespread impact of a fashion editorial advertising campaign to elevate my idea to a larger, broader audience to gain a voice for the earth. I will use industry standard imagery to talk about the detriment that we are creating in our environment. This Ad Campaign will consist of 5 editorial photoshoots, selected images and educated yet publicly understandable research. The Cause: Oil Consumption The Effects on: Land, Water, Air & Human Culture What’s the Next Step: Repair These series of Editorial Photoshoots will feature handmade couture dresses that are inspired by the destruction to the natural environment caused by Human consumption of Fossil Fuels since the 1890’s. These dress designs have been inspired by a retrospective look on the 100+ years of fashion since the Industrial Revolution. Each Editorial Photoshoot will embody oil consumption's effect on a separate aspect of the environment and culture since then. I will be calling attention to how our consumption of Oil affects the Land , Air, Water, our Culture and how we can Repair and reverse the damage that has already been done.