The foundation for Music Box Desert (2023) came from watching countless exercise videos from the 1950s. I was fascinated by the outfits worn by women: high heels, dresses, and nylons - hardly ideal for exercising. By wearing costumes of yesteryear and interacting with antiquated items from the past, I am examining how the societal expectations, control of women’s bodies, and emphasis on traditional gender roles faced by women in past eras are issues women around the world still face today.

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My costume juxtaposes brightly optimistic colors with stillness of the landscape and the raw desperation of the performance. I chose a hoop skirt as it conceals the unbalance and physical stress endured beneath the surface as I attempt to “twist the fat away” while wearing high heels on a vintage Jack Lalanne Twist Away Twister device. The tune, “Music Box Dancer” continuously starts/stops as I try and fail to successfully utilize the fitness device – attempting to fulfill a gender role and continuously failing.

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And yet, the landscape is ever-present and seemingly unchanging, highlighting the absurdity of my efforts.