Ritual Objects

This series of ritual objects are commentary on the practices of the Catholic church, viewed through the lens of queer history, human rights violations, and abortion rights.

Ewer and Basin is a pitcher and bowl similar to those used in the Catholic churches for baptism to cleanse the individual with holy water, leaving them cleansed of their “original sin”. This knot, made of hand-spun wool to signify its connection to the Lamb of God, is fastened in front of the vessel. Here, I have added a confessional booth screen where the water is destined to pour out from, purifying the knot as the water flows. A tied white knot is a popular representation worn by celebrities to stand in solidarity with queer individuals. I enjoy the play between idolized beliefs within the church and idolized people in the media.

Dust to Dust revisits my memories of learning about Father Faucher, a local priest who was imprisoned for charges of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography and drug possession. The impact of these atrocities on the local Catholic community still lives in my memory. This baptismal font is traditionally designed to remind users of their purity achieved in baptism. The users dip their fingers in the holy water, and then evoke the sign of the cross. Instead of holy water, “Dust to Dust” is filled with the ashes I created by burning articles relating to Father Faucher.

Prayers of Wrongdoing is a reimagined rosary with accents of cast barley among the wax beads containing birth control. The accompanying kneeler is filled with barley which references the verse from Numbers 5:15: “it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder-offering to draw attention to wrongdoing.” This verse was pulled from the parable “The Test for an Unfaithful Wife,” a story detailing how to challenge your wife’s loyalty paired with a recipe for a miscarriage if she is untrustworthy. This verse is one of the more literal mentions of abortion within the Bible, with other passages having vague mentions of miscarriages. Through these objects, I hope to start a dialogue about the Catholic church’s anti-abortion stance and question the justifications that the church uses to promote their beliefs.

In each object in this series, I have incorporated translucent elements to call attention to the lack of transparency in the Catholic church. These works challenge the traditional morals and beliefs of the Catholic religion, inviting viewers to confront the intersection of faith, identity, and personal experience. Through this series, I aim to engage in a dialogue about the impact of institutional religion on queer individuals and peoples rights.