48in x 51in x 78in
resin, plastic, ribbon, chains

Artist statement:
This piece, made from 12 different castings of the word “please”, brings a monumental nature to the repetition of the word, symbolizing how many times a day it is said in desperation to be accepted and respected.  The white, light pink, and light blue colors in this piece symbolize the colors found within the trans flag. This piece is a personal monument to how many times I have asked nicely to be respected for my own identity as someone who is non-binary. Contextually, the timing of the completion of this piece is one month following losing my job due to state legislature that was passed by Greg Abbott which effectively banned any Diversity & Inclusion office on any public state campus, which included my place of employment, the UNT Pride Alliance, rendering me unemployed. Since the office’s closure, I have very sadly watched the displacement of so many queer and trans resources on campus, and the immediate negative impact their removal has had on the student body. The delicately tied pink and blue ribbon bows throughout this piece offer a thought-provoking contrast to the chains that hold each “Please” to the ceiling; the bows offer a gentle presentation when the chains and scale of the piece are directly commanding. This juxtaposition symbolizes how many times I have exhausted the “asking nicely” method, and that at this point, even my nicest plead will be a command. The chains, which connect all twelve pleases together, also symbolize that I am not alone in this journey and that I have an entire community of people just like me who will be there to support and fight for the rights and safety we all deserve.

View video documentation here.

Watch my process as I made this piece here.