Wound is an expression of the danger that our current political state could take us to. Those of us who are different - who are POC, who are LGBTQ, who rally for what is decent and right and equal in our society - are in danger of being attacked, abused, and often killed. “Wound” seeks to make those fears tangible and warn against a reality that is all too terrifying and all too imminent. I asked people what they were afraid of with the country and the world in the state it is in and then interpreted that into a wound makeup and took the photos.

“I am most concerned with the burden of leaving my daughter and future generations the debt of having to work to undo the damage to civil liberties and the environment.”

“I’m afraid that we’re taking a step backwards and that human, gay and women’s rights are at stake.”

“I am scared that America will not be recognized as a continual colonial legacy and be overran with egocentric initiatives.”

“I am most afraid of individualism, and how individualism can affect a community.  In this world right now, what we need right now is community.  So I’m just scared of this society that is obsessed with individualism.”

“I’m scared of the continued validation and success of bigotry and hatred.”

“My biggest fear is that I will be forced to hide the things that are physically impossible for me to hide.”

“I’m fearful of people being oblivious to the damage that Trump is doing.”

“I think the thing that makes me most afraid and sad is seeing this inability or lack of desire to really listen to one another and empathize.  We tend to go back in our corners and retreat and never really understand the other perspective.”

“I’m afraid that people in this country will feel sanctioned by the government to hurt people that look like me.”

“I’m afraid that we’re going to lose our freedom and become a third world country.”

“I am afraid of the complete disconnect of our society.”

“I am afraid of unequal opportunity because of where I come from.”

“My fear is that we will continue to grow apart as a people, instead of growing together.”

“I am afraid for everyone I love.  I’m afraid for everyone I don’t know, who I would love.”

“I am afraid that hatred is allowing people to destroy humanity and that homogenization is the new norm.  So homophobia, racism, sexism, ableism and everything that go along with that are more prevalent that I thought I would see at this age in my life.”

“I’m afraid that there will be no human interaction because robots will make it so that we do not need to go anywhere.”

“At 78, I’m not worried about me.  But I am worried about my children, my grandchildren; other people’s children and their grandchildren.”

“I fear that the memory of the fire that engulfed my ancestors, won’t be enough to stop humanity from being divided once more on the basis of their blood.”

“My fear is that I can’t keep my 11 year-old son safe, and protect him from being attacked or shot because he’s Black.”

“I’m most afraid of losing health insurance and withering away from my disease.”

“I’m afraid that people will give in to their worst impulses and they will express their contempt for each other and no one will talk to each and there will just be outrage and cruelty.”

“I am afraid that I will grow older in a climate that allows people to do the wrong thing and that that will just become an accepted reality and we will not remember what the basis that we all had together before was.”

“Honestly, my fear is that as a global society we’re becoming normalized, you know, to accept the poor behavior of those that are charged with leading us.  Misogyny, racism, hate – I mean, these things have become normal.  I’m afraid that we’re becoming complacent, maybe even giving up on the idea that you know, perhaps we can be better than that.”

“I’m afraid that we’ve broken the arc of justice and we will never get it to bend in our favor again.”

“I fear that when the time comes to stand behind moral and duty, I’ll fall in line with the lobotomized masses.”

“My fear is that I cannot live the life that I want to be…that I can live freely…and be me.”

“I’m afraid of getting to a point of helplessness and loneliness that I want to end up hurting myself.”

“I am angry of having to say ‘I told you so’”.

“I fear that I will be forced to flee, leave my family behind and not be able to come back.”

“I fear that my girls won’t have their fair chance in the future to succeed because of their sex and ethnicity and I won’t be there to help guide them.”

“My biggest fear is I’m never good enough and that I always need to push harder.”

“I am afraid of us, losing everything we now take for granted.  We fought so hard for so much, that the loss would just be too devastating.”