2022-2023

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American Girl Gothic, is a collaborative project between Chloe Wack and Casey Wolhar. This project is an extension of our individual practices and allows us a space to explore the intersection of our work and learn from each other through the process.

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Chloe’s practice addresses the translation and adaptation of photos and videos taken from personal collections. These works seek to record the growing and shifting dynamics of a social group with an emphasis on themes of friendship, how people perform in different spaces, and the process of making as an act of care and love.

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Casey’s interdisciplinary practice features performance, video. and textile works with a focus on moments of tenderness and struggle through the enigmatic action. Her work conveys themes of femininity, longing, desire, and introspection.

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American Girl Gothic brings the shared interests of Chloe and Casey together and reflects a four-part series of video performance works that represents a year of time. We are interested in themes of anticipation, disappointment, and change as shown through the passage of seasons. 

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We are also interested in feminist ideas related to girlhood and aging, as well the relationship between food and femininity. The two foods featured are both sweet, calling back to girlhood and expectations of femininity. However, this youth and innocence cannot remain as the foods continue to change and decay. The changing nature of the food is contrasted by the stillness of the shot, echoing the sensibility of portraiture. As we sit still, staring back at the camera, we never acknowledge each other. This blocking establishes both a sense of comradery and loneliness as we go through this shared experience of failed expectations.

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