[size=60]Birth Video[/size]

Building on the conceptual foundations brought forth through the works of psychologist Jacques Lacan and artist/writer Mary Kelly this project considers the current state of birth (reception and projection) in its captured form. Afterbirth is a proposed multi-channel, projected video installation. Live birth video will be sourced and edited from submissions received through an open call posted through internet communities.

WHY

1 : I dont remember being born, but my son (b.2000) does. He saw it on video. Now he “remembers.” How does this impossible memory change a perception of women, sexuality, discovery, privacy, self? (reception)

2 : A YouTube keyword search for “live birth,” “birth,” “home birth” turns up thousands of relevant results. Once the most private and mysterious processes of life, women now publish themselves in the throws of labor on the internet for their friends, neighbors, and the whole world to see, share and comment on. How does this presentation change the position of women, sexuality, discovery, privacy, self? (projection)

HOW

Afterbirth is comprised of several fluid video and sound composites projected and/or streamed. Visual and sonic content will be visceral (bodily, overstimulating) and intimate (human, emotional) and edited from live birth video submissions.

WHO

Artist/editor, contributors, and audience are all authors and partcipants, informing the collective result. Formally, this project is a processed visual and sound experience, but in broader sense it is a human study exploring a universal theme. Afterbirth is an investigation of the shift in memory, perception, this position of women, sexuality, discovery, and privacy.

Please send miniDV, dvd ntsc, or quicktime video of your birth experience to:

Jessica Westbrook, Assistant Professor
Department of Art
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Ave. Dept. 1301
Chattanooga, TN 37403

Please include an email address and information about yourself and your experience. I will keep everyone posted on progress. If you would like your media returned please include postage. Thank you very much for contributing! Jessica

questions? contact jessica@jessicawestbrook.com