The creative process involves experimentation, which can be daunting. However, it is crucial to recognize that failure is a natural part of the process. I’ve been reading ‘The Queer art of Failure’ by Jack Halberstam and he’s offered some insight on the topic. While not every experiment will be successful, each one presents an opportunity for growth and development. As an artist, I have found that giving myself permission to fail enables me to take risks and explore new possibilities.

Experiments with vinyl, riveting and embroidery.

Recently, I have been engaging in experimentation with a range of craft techniques, including the art of repair, and materials that are not commonly associated with each other. These have included embroidery, paper, vinyl records, wood, fishing lures, makeup brushes, sequins, and paint. Through my experimentation, I have been exploring ideas surrounding toxic masculinity, societal expectations, and the role of queer cultural aesthetics in challenging and disrupting normative beliefs. I am particularly interested in how techniques for mending and repair can intersect with these ideas, and how such techniques can either facilitate or hinder the process of repair.

A recurring theme in this work is the inter-generational trauma that is often associated with traditional expectations surrounding masculinity. I see these repeated generational acts that cause trauma as a failure to repair unhealthy beliefs about oneself, about others, and about what it means to be a man or masculine in a time when I feel we could be moving towards a more inclusive and fluid concept of gender.

A prototype for fishing lures made of makeup brushes.

By exploring these ideas through my work, I hope to contribute to a broader conversation about masculinity, gender equity, and the role of art in promoting positive social change.