Alice Marie Perreault
An Art Practice of Body, Science and Civics
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The care I put into creating art, concerns the care I put into mothering a young daughter exploring independence, and a son, whose physical disabilities and medical frailties magnify dependencies.
These private and intimate performances oscillate into something tangible through multiple materials that pass through my hands in both roles.
It is a practice of body, science and civics.
-Perreault
These private and intimate performances oscillate into something tangible through multiple materials that pass through my hands in both roles.
It is a practice of body, science and civics.
-Perreault
The narratives happen inadvertently, cycling through my concerns for healthcare, accessibility, disability, policy, caretaking, and single parenting. I did not know when I was painting the nipples of the medication ampules that I would fill a gun case with them. I hadn’t seen that, yet. I was just making oil paintings on these small plastic objects that took me there.
“Bull, Bully, Bullshit” (above) is made from empty nebulizer bullets with their nipples painted in variations of red oil paint. The ampules fill and nest a Smith and Wesson gun case, juxtaposing a relationship between the costs of health care versus acts of violence. |
Check Residuals
Photo Credit: Jill Carol This installation, shown partially in detail above, involves dome mirrors, metallic lame, polyester resin, ball-chain, high-gloss paint, red thread, glass, wire, beads, salt crystals and, 60cc syringes I've used to feed my son. Checking residuals is a medical procedure that provides information about motility: to evaluate stomach contents before continuing. This is a metaphor about considering what is already present before making any decisions. When moving through the installation choices are being made consciously and unconsciously about which direction to go, where to look and what to focus on. Above the center is a full dome mirror providing 360 degree sight. The longer one pays attention to the details within the syringes, the more is revealed. Click on the image to see a short video. Check Residuals was part of Physical Presence: A Dialogue with Residual and Surrounding Space shown in the galleries of Claremont Graduate University, Curated by Rachel Lachowicz. Slide Show (at bottom) |
One Step Removed
Bandanas used as filtering masks for my son, were shifted into organic shapes, and reproduced in paintings and sculptures. While the door separating home from art studio was removed and reconfigured as an axis for this installation. The Tender Touch of an Exceptional Motherhood written by Lara Salmon Flux Art Space, Long Beach 
Yellow Sweater
Braided string, suction catheters, metal, enamel paint: Part of Chain Reaction, 2019 installation at Hoyt Gallery, USC, Keck Curator: Ted Meyer "Yellow Sweater" is made from suction catheters and yellow fibers. When I tell you "this is a yellow sweater" repeatedly, you will eventually believe me. This is known as The Illusory Truth Effect where repetition leads to validity even when the information is false. Abusers have used this manipulative strategy throughout history for power. The tactic was used during the height of progressive stem cell research in 2000, the year my son was born and suffocated. Medical doctors anticipated help would be available within the decade for those with brain injuries like my son's and other neurological disorders, including Parkinson's, Alzheimers and ALS. But religious and political dogma lead to time sensitive setbacks for this responsible research. The harm devastated my family."
Illusionary Truth Effect strategies are being used in extreme today. Social media increases the speed in which it spreads. |
