Episode 4: A Shock to the System (Works)

Because I am completely incapable of inserting any type of code that would make this post go behind a link (I searched the Internet for such code and came up with bupkis. if you know how to do that stuff, by all means, tell me what's what), you guys are just gonna have to roll with the fact that it's out in the open. In your face and whatnot. Consider this a disclaimer of sorts: WARNING! Shocking material below! Not safe for work! Not safe for children or kittens! Definitely not safe for my grandparents! Are you reading this, Grandpa?! GO AWAY (just this once. please. I love you).

If you're still reading, you're not a child, nor a grandparent of mine, nor do you mind shocking material. Thank you and have a lovely day.

Okay, FINALLY, the works:






Artist: Susannah Perry
Twitter: PaintingChef
"Helpless: Pencil and colored pencil on paper
A pregnant blow-up doll with severed hands. I imagine you think I should be looking into therapy right about now. But is it shocking? Depends on your perspective. After a 6 year battle with infertility that I feel I lose a little more every day, it’s shocking to me. Cycle after cycle, month after month, people in my position measure their lives in increments of ultrasounds, injections and bloodwork results. You lose your femininity and your allure in the bedroom and might as well be just another blow-up doll on a shelf. Nothing is spontaneous. Nothing is sacred.
Your body no longer belongs to you, for all purposes, your hands have been severed. Take this pill, this shot, this test. Have sex on this day and this day but not this day. Have your partner jack off in a cup on this day but only between the hours of 7 and 9 and only if he’s been celibate for the last 48 hours. But no more than 52 hours. That’s too long.
I lost control of my body and my life and my marriage last year while trying to get pregnant. I lost my individuality. I lost my sense of adventure. I was shocked at who I had become.
And yes. My hair really is that big."



Artist: Jennifer Mathis
Twitter: JenXer
"Prescription medications. I need them, I hate them. I want to be rid of them, I can't live without them."



Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"The Final Thrill of Personal Extinction"











*Click boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
"The zeppelin Hindenburg went up in flames, on May 6th 1937, and the radio broadcast from Lakehurst, New Jersey is one of the most famed and compelling in all of radio. I have sampled from that broadcast, combined with a series of instruments (piano, clarinet, bass clarinet, piccolo and flute) for this piece which I just call "Lakehurst.""






Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"Dealing With Diabetes:
Materials: Acrylic, ink, blood, bloody tissues, magazine collage, book excerpts, product packaging, and used lancets and glucose test strips on canvas.
Statement: Diabetes may not seem shocking in art, but it's shocking to the person who has it. Words and pictures on the canvas present the challenges of dealing with this chronic illness including fears of blindness and amputation, unfounded guilt about the illness, and the wearying necessity of being aware of the content of everything eaten every day and daily testing of blood glucose."



Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
Twitter: smoness
"Living with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome has created a number of food and body issues for me. This four-frame piece is to display desire, angst, anger, and emotional frustration toward food and eating on a daily basis. All while feeling bound and disfigured by the illness. The shower setting is symbolic of feeling trapped and flooded."



Artist: Nikie Brown
Twitter: wishnikphoto
"The Hypocrisy of Atheism: The story behind it is there are some atheists out there who rant and rave about things like, you can't say Merry Christmas or put God on the dollar bill, etc. Yet, during the holidays such as Easter and Christmas they want to get the gifts and hunt the eggs."




Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A