Riot Remedy

Inspired by the work of Saidiya Hartman and Antonin Artaud, Riot Remedy explores the human scream as both a means of rebellion and an expression of our collective rage, frustration, and anxiety. The work manifested as an audio installation taking place at CalArts in the Wavecave in Spring 2022. The space was completely blacked out with a single tight cut white light on a piece of paper with a text score suspended in the center of the space. The soundscape is a collage of discussion, frustrations, and screams that I recorded in a series of interview session with friends and colleagues regarding the greater state of the world.

The capitalist systems which dominate our lives and the politicians, corporations, and oligarchs who perpetuate them have caused untold amounts of human suffering. They refuse to take any responsibility for their actions, and they continue their behavior even in the face of ecological collapse, rampant systemic racism, extreme inequality, and so much more.

Confronting those in power and attempting to deal with these problems is a tall order for anyone (or even a large movement) and is certainly not something that can be done with any singular artwork. However, I created this work in an attempt at building some sense of proletariat power and providing space for release. Audiences were, if they felt comfortable, encouraged to take part in the installation, listen to the grievances of their peers, and join them in utilizing what I believe is a very important tool of resistance and rebellion: the human scream.

I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the following individuals for lending their voices to this project. I am extremely grateful to you for sharing your thoughts, engaging in discussion, and screaming with me. Without you this work would not have been possible.

Maddi Baird
Eliot Burk
Yenju Chen
Christopher Pierandozzi Everingham
Margo HarmsJack Herscowitz
Bar Landau
Clare Marie Nemanich
Luna Izpisua Rodriguez
Christine Stemmer
Askia Vargas Toure
Abigail Whitman
Olivia Xing