2025
Loading the Sins of my Pride and Self-Rightousness
Exhibition Locations & Dates
Wild Goose Creative, Columbus Ohio—December 12, 2025- Janurary 6, 2026
The name of this piece changed so much over the course of the nine months creating it: “Invisible Weight” and “Mental Load” were two contenders.
At first the work was focused on my mental load as a stay at home mother and wife. A mental load can be described as an emotional or cognitive weight that can cause stress and frustration. I considered slapping a social equality label on this work, regarding traditional gender roles—stating that women do more work than men in the home and how it causes burnout. This concept is nothing new and honestly men and women each carry their own distinct mental loads.
Instead, this is a window to my personal struggle. For me, I am balancing being an emerging artist and professional photographer amongst being a stay at home mother and wife. I’m a straight, black woman with big hair, who believes that the Bible is the true and living word of a true and living God; and that plays a significant role in an “invisible” weight I am burdened with in a world that is set against many things I stand for.
As I included the Lord in my thoughts and plans, I realized I wanted to somehow include the reality of joy as well. The Lord both allows and sees us suffer at the hands of our enemies. He sees us make decisions that harm ourselves. He sees us be foolish in the face of wisdom. Real art is multifaceted. Life is complex and I want my art to reflect those nuances. I don't think I would be accurately representing Jesus, as a follower if there wasn't both suffering and joyfulness depicted.
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Inspiration
How I Got Here
Light & Shadows
Ambient and focused light play their own roles in casting shadows using color and images. Also this is the basis capturing images.
Photography Meets Art
The 7 art forms, as described by Italian theorist Ricciotto Canudo (painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music, film, theatre) do not include photography though it surely existed when this list was drafted. Art critics are split on photography being an art form. Adding dimension and texture to ensure similarities to paintings, sculpture and film (moving pictures) would be vital to the presentation of the photography.
Transparent Cubes
Using the cube shape as a building block paired with a transparent material displays a captured "air" or thought.
The Pivot
What Sets Us Apart
What started as 2-dimensional photography, quickly became 3-dimensional as I experimented with an atmospheric concept, using transparent paper and acrylic sheets to form nested cubes. The subject of my story came months later—my mental load.
How do I cope? How do I get through my day? Less than 5 years ago, I self-soothed with weed and fornication . I have lost myself so many times because I was separated from my creator. After coming to Christ, his presence comforts me. My mind became clear of the constant badgering of self-hate and apathy. How do include Him in this piece? How can I show that I am not on my own?
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Interaction Elements
How is the viewer involved?
I was hoping for a more tactile experience for the viewer but due to environmental constraints, it is wise to limit the experience for the time being, in order to preserve the integrity of the piece.
In the tactile version, the viewer is meant to place items onto the white semi-truck that represents a trust in Jesus. As they place the items (thoughts, bricks that symbolize unhealthy desires, and weighty pipes made of bullet shells), they should feel a pulse of dopamine—both completing a task and having a feeling of good doing. The viewers would also be instructed to reset the environment by removing the elements and therefore leaving unresolved and unfulfilled.
I chose the element of a toy semi-truck to identify with being a parent, currently with a 2 year-old boy attached to my skirt. The truck also is something I see everyday while driving my family in our one car across Columbus. I drive about 4 hours a day with errands and throughout the ideation of this piece, I noticed there were not many more opportunities to take photos and flex my creative muscles. I began to do photography out of my car window.
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Final Thoughts
Things to think about
The title “Loading my Sins of Pride and Self-Righteousness” stems directly from the below-mentioned Bible verse, Mathew 11:28-30 which asks us to put our burdens on Jesus and in exchange take up his yoke (wooden piece that animals wear to pull plow or heavy items) which is light. He asks us to learn from him as well.
My husband calls this title a “Duchamp” title which continually makes me laugh but really I do think the piece needed this level of context. Pride is the greatest abomination of the Lord (Proverbs 16:5) and self-righteousness says that we justify ourselves. We put our own stamp of approval on the things we do which leaves most of the world largely unchecked. This statement is to not leave out my fellow Christian brothers and sisters who this verse in Matthew is about. The most religious and legalist of us are some of the most lost. We have to put those burdens of social expectations and obesessions of personal preferences upon Jesus as well.
The only truth is His Word. Being guided by the Holy Spirit allows us to understand the convictions of our spirit, guiding us to obedience and knowing the love God has for us. None of us will ever achieve perfection yet the mistakes we make—attempting our own idea of perfection—is the exact reason we are weighed down. Mistakes and self-perceived flaws are not the burden, the idolatry of perfection is.
Thank you.
This text has not been written with or by AI in any whole or parts.
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Sketches
Ideas & Concepts
Where is God in This?
Notes from the Bible
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 ESV
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 6-7 ESV
