Outside Observer

Drypoint engraving, chine colle

18” x 22”

2023

Chine-collé, found photography
Madison, WI, 1940s

Outside Observer is a layered exploration of race, faith, and authority, set against the backdrop of a baptism in Madison, Wisconsin, likely from the 1940s. Using chine-collé and found photography, I juxtapose a solemn religious ritual—a Black woman being baptized by members of her church—with the watchful presence of a white lifeguard. The lifeguard’s stance, marked by a casual authority, contrasts with the reverence of the baptism, creating an inherent tension. Further amplifying this dynamic, white spectators linger on the dock, observing from a distance.

Through this piece, I examine the intersections of race, spirituality, and societal oversight, questioning who holds power in moments of deep personal and communal significance.