In this series I was looking at how past traumatic experiences or upbringing can create a sense of self-isolation with the intent of keeping the self safe. A shelter, a barricade, a wall: a place made up of emotional survival tools that keeps us from getting harmed. The idea to hunker down and be emotionally prepared in case of any re-occuring or luring threat.

My initial art investigation into the Shelter Series began on the heels of the Diaspora Series, prompted from research into the Holocaust in May of 2001.
What inspired my investigation was how one looks at their own past trauma (personally or as a society) through the lens of others. These series began after a research study trip to Germany: Munich, Nuremburg and Berlin (plus many other cities in between). We met and intervirewed Jewish and German artists, politicians, political activists, historians, community members, surviviors (etc) as well as visiting concentration camps, memorials, Nazi party rally grounds, art installations, etc.  The research cohort was led by Artist Matthew Gursen and Professor Tim O'Donnel from the Art Institute of Chicago, titled: Holocaust: Memory, History & Trauma. 

Though not the best archival images, I thought it was important to resurface them during these Covid19 times. The year today is 2020 and we are currently in a lockdown due to millions of people dying all over the world due to the Corona-Virus pandemic. Currently over 63,000 people in the U.S. have died with in a month--millions all over the world. Society has paused or shut-down. Lock down began the week of March 16th (it is April 30th today). The term "sheltering in place" has become common a part of our everyday vocabulary & reality.