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Ann Lewis
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...and counting (Syria)

...and counting (Syria) is a chrono-reactive, hanging installation that documents in real time the deaths of Syrian children over an extended period. It was first displayed at Moniker Art Fair in London 2018. Over the course of the 4 day fair roughly 26 children lost their lives due to the Syrian conflict. Each pair of disfigured and shattered porcelain baby shoes hung from orange ribbons suspended from the ceiling. Each pair represented the loss of one innocent, young life. ..and counting (Syria) is a means to showcase the calamity of war, the exponential effects of our world’s torpor, and an opportunity to instigate action in the visitors.

...and counting

toe tags, ink, ribbon, metal
dimensions variable
2016

... and counting is an ongoing and interactive installation that presents the facts around each police involved death in America during 2016. By presenting only the facts this project gives the viewer an objective and all encompassing opportunity to face our nation's heartbreaking and ubiquitous problem of death at the hands of police, which will aid in developing solutions. As the days tick forward the installation grows as participants add new names and details of each death to the piece.

This is Who We Are

porcelain, ribbon, metal, plastic, gun lock box
dimensions variable
2018

This is Who We Are is a participatory performance reflecting on the effects of gun violence on American children. Offering the participants a single pair of scissors and 40 pairs of porcelain baby shoes hanging from ribbons this work challenges our preconceived notions of societal expectations around complicity and solutions to gun violence. The participants are given no instructions, just offered the scissors after they are removed from a locked gun box while surrounded by the dangling baby shoes. 

One in Five of Us

women's underwear, girl's underwear, beer, dirt, glass, blood, tears, grass, twine, wood, metal
dimensions variable
2016

One in Five of Us is a hanging installation that represents the statistic that 1 in 5 American women will be raped in her lifetime. Fifty pair of women and girls' underwear hang from the ceiling. Forty of which are untouched, the other 10 are stained, torn, shredded, and otherwise destroyed to represent the trauma of rape experienced by this subset of women.

Our Future Past

wood, gasoline, glass, paint
dimensions variable
2015

Our Future Past is a performance centered around the divisiveness and destruction of our communities due to police violence. This project uses violence and destructive means to break down the barriers that divide the activists and community members from the police officers patrolling their neighborhoods. By revoking the purpose of a barricade this project considers a future where police barricades are rendered useless and are only relics of a violent past hanging in museums to educate our children.

SHATTERING

ceramics
dimensions variable
2015-ongoing

SHATTERING is a participatory performance in which individuals destroy fragile items in a private space. It explores the fear of untapped anger and the freedom of release. This project highlights the beauty of being present and the euphoria of letting go. After the performance the shards are sorted, some are discarded and some used to create works. SHATTERING is a reflection on our broken governmental and social systems. It asks us as a society to take what functions to create something new and discard the useless.

Autoincarceration

inmate jumpsuits, ink
60" x 30
2014

Autoincarceration was a month long performance protest in 2014 to engage the public around the issues of mass incarceration. Through conversations, research, and experiences; markings, text, and drawings made their way onto one of 7 standard issue inmate jumpsuits that I wore continuously for 30 days.

The Absurdity of Power

ink on 156 lb cold pressed watercolor paper
dimensions variable
2017

This series reflects on the absurd lengths that American politicians will go to maintain or expand their party's power by gerrymandering congressional districts around the country. 

public art

A collection of my commissioned murals for the public

The Matroits

mixed media on wood
dimensions variable
2017-ongoing

Matriots are those who support and defend their planet and all of its people regardless of borders, religion, identity, or nation states with unwavering devotion. 
This series celebrates the power and beauty of our diversity by honoring the stories of radical women working to make the world a more accepting and loving place.  

The Wayfinders

Messages of personal and public significance can be found hidden within the lines of this series. These works reflect upon the subliminal messaging of advertising. The hidden statements engage the viewer to look past the noise to find meaning.

Define Progress

Define Progress is an ongoing project highlighting issues around the gentrification, corporatization, and displacement of our communities. This custom barricade tape is used to call attention to recently closed small businesses, residential buildings that are being emptied to become luxury rentals, and community spaces being gobbled up by "progress".

TIXE

found toilet seats, fishing wire, paint; 15' x 12' x 8'; 2014

After discovering an abandoned hotel riff with materials BAMN & I created installations to reflect upon the wastefulness of hyper capitalism and the evaporation of small businesses in the shadow of 3 major hotel chains.

protest posters

Going to a protest? Need Art? Download any of these images for free, and get involved in changing the world. 

uncommissioned

I can neither confirm nor deny I had a hand in any of this

objects

#checkyourselfie

#checkyourselfie was an online participatory performance in which I asked people to use the selfie to highlight issues instead of using it for vanity. With over 200 submissions issues ranged from human trafficking, environmental destruction, to self love. Each one of my works seen here discusses the self in relation to surroundings and our understanding of the importance of our environment and those within it.

Available Works

...and counting (Syria)

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...and counting

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IMG_4735.JPG

This is Who We Are

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One in Five of Us

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Our Future Past

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Our Future Past

SHATTERING

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Autoincarceration

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The Absurdity of Power

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Gill v. Whitford

public art

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I Vote Because

The Matroits

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The Wayfinders

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Honor Now

Define Progress

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TIXE

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protest posters

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Science Matters!

uncommissioned

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objects

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Playing God

#checkyourselfie

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