Endorheic Basin, 2020 (2 min, 02 seconds, video based on self-spanking paddleboat performance Lucy’s Leisure Vessel, 2019 (below)

Lucy's Leisure .jpeg

Lucy’s Leisure Vessel, 2019, 9’ x 4’ x 4’, self-spanking paddle boat

The work muses upon the complex nuances of social activism throughout US history by examining how pioneering female comedian Lucille Ball allowed her character to receive regular spankings on I Love Lucy. I Love Lucy (1951-1957), one of the most beloved sitcoms in the history of US television, was progressive in that it made Lucille Ball the first woman to headline a prime time television spot, introduced one of TV's first interracial marriages, and Lucy and Ethel's antics make the show pass the Bechdel test with flying colors. However, scenes of Desi Arnaz' character spanking his wife seem sinister when viewed through a contemporary lens. The work is styled using the language of desert modern design typical of that used at Lucy and Desi's vacation home at the Salton Sea when it was a booming vacation destination.