What does a better future look like from your perspective?
Hello and welcome! My name is Paige Savino. I’m an artist based in Richmond, VA and I am currently working on a project called “Destroying the Machine” where I am creating different machines to demonstrate and imagine a future where we dismantle the strongholds of white supremacy in the United States and build a society that is diverse, inclusive, sustainable, and meaningfully addresses the impacts of white supremacy’s ideology and impact on our communities.
By using machines, I intend to use the language of capitalism, industry, and technology to bridge the gaps between the current society and the better future we are imagining and building together.
I am an artist of Swedish and Italian descent. I believe that as a white person who has privilege in this society, it is my responsibility to first listen before I begin to make work. As I make work that imagines a future where marginalized communities are flourishing, I do so by partnering with those communities (first and continually). This is where I need your support. I cannot make work without you. My goal is to use my privilege to enter spaces with other white folks and challenge the histories, prejudices, and ideologies that are a norm in white society which are detrimental to the flourishing of everyone.
The piece, in particular, I am looking for input and collaboration on is a non-operable vending machine and a trash can (sketches below).
The trash can represents the overt white supremacy we seek to throw away. When viewers interact, they will be able to open the trash can which will have a mirrored bottom. Inside features images of both overt and subtle white supremacy (including a bottle of White Lady Tears). Viewers will have to consider how they fit into this image of white supremacy and choose to “throw it away.” Calling viewers to self-reflect and consider how they are profiting from and upholding white supremacy.
This trash can will be paired with a vending machine finished in a retro-futuristic style featuring seven marginalized communities: Indigenous peoples, the Black community, Latinx/Latine, 2SLGBTQ+, Southwest Asian/North African (SWANA), Disabled community, and the East Asian community.
The piece will feature an art piece representing each community and answering the question: what will it cost for these communities to flourish?
You can help represent your community/communities by answering the questions below. If you are not an artist, your answers and opinions matter and are valuable to this project. If you are an artist and want to collaborate on this piece, I would love to discuss more. Please just select the options below for us to connect.
Thank you so much for your time and feedback. A better future is possible for all people, but we must not lose our hope and desire to learn from one another and work together.
