Sabrina Spallacci

Perceptions of Tragedy investigates the memories associated with a personal, familial tragedy that took place in 2005 when my family and I lost my aunt and cousins in a car accident. By implementing research tools and nuanced artmaking techniques, this project presents itself as a tool for remembering the people who are no longer here with me. This visual and research-based exploration offers an approach to retaining and reimagining “lost- memories” by using different media to reimagine moments, peoples, places, and things. Over the year, Perceptions of Tragedy has served as a tool for remembering through the physicality that painting and printmaking techniques offer. Playing with design and visual art elements has provided me with the flexibility to incorporate nuanced images that I was too young to remember physically. With every brushstroke and swipe of ink across the plate, images are created that enable critical thinking, investigation, and most importantly, promote a sense of healing for myself- that I felt was impossible.