Cutting my Wedding Dress

Artist Statement
I started developing this performance piece in response to my divorce, summer of 2017. My current performance works have to do with the process of turning myself into the art piece through outward expression. My goal is to turn my difficult circumstances into something beautiful. Turning reality into relevant and powerful works of art is the basis of all my performance work. I have incorporated pieces of my wedding dress into my paintings, and I will finnish cutting away the length of the dress in front of my audience. This act will be a symbol of liberation and freedom from my toxic marriage. In a wedding, the bride is the crown jewel. This performance gives me the opportunity to show I don’t need to be a bride to shine. Cutting my wedding dress into a mini dress is my choice to embrace life as a single woman. This act would take place with or without an audience. However, I want others to have the opportunity to witness this symbol of change. The person I am today, after going through everything, is the real work of art. The emotions that may arise during my performance are welcomed. They are part of this piece.

I decided to post in honor of completing my first year of school, and in honor of finalizing my divorce. This was filmed last semester, before I went to trial. This was a final project and those are my classmates. I am happy to say that I won the fight, and I am on the other side as a new woman. I came into my freshman year of collage as Laurel Daugherty, and I am leaving as Laurel Driskill. I couldn’t be more proud of myself than I am today.

Instagram @sugar_boogerz for satisfying vids @actual.laurel for artwork @qweensativa for pics of me.