Working within the field of critical animal studies, my work attempts to question and decenter the privileged, man-made construct of “the human.” My interdisciplinary artistic practice is inspired by post-humanist, eco-feminist philosophies and activism and seeks to expand compassion, care and concern for marginalized groups and the environment. My work questions the anthropocentric (human centered) and androcentric (male centered) structures that are central to the oppression of women, people of color, planet earth, nonhuman animals and all those who are “Othered,” and deemed inferior. In my work, I create connections between different forms of oppression and utilize activist strategies to create dialogues that raise awareness both within and outside of traditional art gallery settings.
The following pages are from Aph and Syl Ko's world-changing book, APHRO-ISM. This book informs my practice and is something that I am always re-reading & highly recommend:
When I was 20 years old, I read a story about a downed cow in my home state of Kentucky who was so sick with an infection she could not stand or walk. The core of my artistic practice is intrinsically tied to this paradigm shifting moment. I hope you will read this story and no longer be the same, as I was 23 years ago…
The truck carrying this cow was unloaded at Walton Stockyards in Kentucky one September morning. After the other animals were removed from the truck, she was left behind, unable to move. The stockyard workers used the customary electric prods in her ear to try to get her out of the truck, then beat and kicked her, but she still didn’t move. They tied a rope around her neck, tied the other end to a post in the ground and drove the truck away. The cow fell to the ground, landing with both hind legs and her pelvis broken.
For the first three hours, she lay in the hot sun crying out. Periodically, when she urinated or defecated, she used her front legs to drag herself to a clean spot. She also tried to crawl to a shaded area but couldn’t. Altogether, she managed to crawl a painful 13 to 14 yards. The stockyard employees wouldn’t give her any water – the only water she received was given to her by Jessie Pierce, a local animal rights activist, who had been contacted by a woman who witnessed the incident. Jessie arrived at noon. After receiving no cooperation from stockyard workers, she called the Kenton County police. A police officer arrived but was instructed by his superiors to do nothing.
He left at 1 p.m.
The stockyard operator informed Jessie that he had permission from the insurance company to kill the cow but wouldn’t do it until Jessie left. Although doubtful that he would keep his word, Jessie left at 3 p.m. She returned at 4:30 p.m. and found the stockyard deserted. Three dogs were attacking the cow, who was still alive. Jessie contacted the state police. Four officers arrived at 5:30 p.m.
State Trooper Jan Wuchner wanted to shoot the cow but was told that a veterinarian should kill her. The two veterinarians at the facility would not euthanize her, claiming that in order to preserve the value of the meat, she could not be destroyed. The butcher eventually arrived at 7:30 p.m. and shot the cow. Her body was purchased for $307.50.
Tears streaming down my face I was outraged. I vowed to never eat another hamburger, hotdog, or chicken nugget again. I would be damned if I was going to contribute to that kind of suffering. SUCH NEEDLESS AND UNNECESSARY SUFFERING!! And the really tragic thing I learned is that this story is not unusual, it is not an isolated incident. It’s business as usual for the animal agriculture industry that values profit above all else & views nonhuman animals as live--stock, some--thing, an object, a mass of anonymous “meat,” a payment of $307.50.
My partner and I went vegetarian that very day and five years later we went vegan after learning a lot more and watching the documentary Peaceable Kingdom, which outlines the specific cruelty female farm animals endure. As a feminist, I knew I could never drink a mother cow’s milk, or eat a chicken’s egg again. Cows are female animals and make milk for their cow babies, just as human female animals make milk for their human babies to drink! It really is as simple as that.
Imagine, someone forcibly impregnating you every year, taking your babies away and stealing your breast milk to drink themselves!! It sounds ridiculous and it IS ridiculous and it’s happening every day at a farm near you.
The truck carrying this cow was unloaded at Walton Stockyards in Kentucky one September morning. After the other animals were removed from the truck, she was left behind, unable to move. The stockyard workers used the customary electric prods in her ear to try to get her out of the truck, then beat and kicked her, but she still didn’t move. They tied a rope around her neck, tied the other end to a post in the ground and drove the truck away. The cow fell to the ground, landing with both hind legs and her pelvis broken.
For the first three hours, she lay in the hot sun crying out. Periodically, when she urinated or defecated, she used her front legs to drag herself to a clean spot. She also tried to crawl to a shaded area but couldn’t. Altogether, she managed to crawl a painful 13 to 14 yards. The stockyard employees wouldn’t give her any water – the only water she received was given to her by Jessie Pierce, a local animal rights activist, who had been contacted by a woman who witnessed the incident. Jessie arrived at noon. After receiving no cooperation from stockyard workers, she called the Kenton County police. A police officer arrived but was instructed by his superiors to do nothing.
He left at 1 p.m.
The stockyard operator informed Jessie that he had permission from the insurance company to kill the cow but wouldn’t do it until Jessie left. Although doubtful that he would keep his word, Jessie left at 3 p.m. She returned at 4:30 p.m. and found the stockyard deserted. Three dogs were attacking the cow, who was still alive. Jessie contacted the state police. Four officers arrived at 5:30 p.m.
State Trooper Jan Wuchner wanted to shoot the cow but was told that a veterinarian should kill her. The two veterinarians at the facility would not euthanize her, claiming that in order to preserve the value of the meat, she could not be destroyed. The butcher eventually arrived at 7:30 p.m. and shot the cow. Her body was purchased for $307.50.
Tears streaming down my face I was outraged. I vowed to never eat another hamburger, hotdog, or chicken nugget again. I would be damned if I was going to contribute to that kind of suffering. SUCH NEEDLESS AND UNNECESSARY SUFFERING!! And the really tragic thing I learned is that this story is not unusual, it is not an isolated incident. It’s business as usual for the animal agriculture industry that values profit above all else & views nonhuman animals as live--stock, some--thing, an object, a mass of anonymous “meat,” a payment of $307.50.
My partner and I went vegetarian that very day and five years later we went vegan after learning a lot more and watching the documentary Peaceable Kingdom, which outlines the specific cruelty female farm animals endure. As a feminist, I knew I could never drink a mother cow’s milk, or eat a chicken’s egg again. Cows are female animals and make milk for their cow babies, just as human female animals make milk for their human babies to drink! It really is as simple as that.
Imagine, someone forcibly impregnating you every year, taking your babies away and stealing your breast milk to drink themselves!! It sounds ridiculous and it IS ridiculous and it’s happening every day at a farm near you.