To further explore ideas surrounding the substitute, my most recent work with Amber Doll involved transforming her severely damaged silicone flesh, PVC skeleton, and steel-infused joints into a small replica of the bull orca, Tilikum, who lives in captivity at SeaWorld Orlando and has been involved in the deaths of three people. Tilikum most recently made headlines after a February 24, 2010 incident when he killed Dawn Brancheau, a 40-year-old trainer with sixteen years of experience at SeaWorld. Tilikum drowned Brancheau following a popular “Dine with Shamu” show while tourists continued to watch from above and below the tank.

I conducted the Amber Doll > Tilikum transformation December 11-20, 2011 in my BOLT Residency Studio (West Loop, Chicago). Amber Doll’s parts were used as both equivalent and non-equivalent parts of Tilikum resulting in an assemblage maintaining a reference to its materials.