Elijah Corlett
“In Spite of the Situation”
“In Spite of the Situation” is a catalog of artifacts defined by words and phrases said to me that
still live in my head today. Situations crafted and expressed through the visual language of
weapons and physical wear. These pieces were originally going to be testaments of labor and
commentary on labor laws- but the inclusion of the window gave way to a new, more personal
perspective. With labor being the initial focus, lumber and steel were the most appropriate for
construction, but the addition of other materials sparked a change. It is not uncommon for
someone to bring up that I appear upset. Typically, I would reply “I’m fine, this is just my resting
face,” which is true, but still hearing it today has made my resting face appear increasingly more
irritated. I often feel like I’m at the bottom of a crab bucket when starting anything that involves
putting myself around people. I hate when people ask me about my plans for the future. I wonder
if I’ll end up somewhere I can be proud of. I am stuck here and violently flailing over it. What
better way to channel those frustrations than with a hammer that can spray water? A mirror with
a hazy reflection to represent how I view myself. I don’t want to see everything, and I don’t want
everything to be seen. A lot of time has passed, but not nearly enough. Not much has changed,
and I feel like I’m only now closing in on something worthwhile. I can assure you that I know
what I’m doing because I can take it all apart and put it back together again. Do you believe me
