Altared Truths - Amy Bassin

Altared Truth Prayer Card
Oil markers on Catholic Prayer Cards
Diptych: 3.5"x5", 2019
Altared Truth Prayer Cards seeks to raise awareness of the widespread child abuse by the Catholic Church’s clergy that has led to billion-dollar cover-ups. The Church hierarchy of bishops and priests breached their vows to their God. They breached their role as pastors to their congregations by too often turning them into victims of unspeakable physical and emotional violence. For this series, I 'redact' both the front and back of Catholic Prayer Cards and pair them as a diptych to expose the disturbing juxtaposition between the façade of purity and the abuse of innocence. By drawing, taping, and scratching on the cards with familiar everyday household materials available to children/teens/families, I alter these cards using nail polish, X-Acto knives, oil markers, medical and washi tape. I see this project as an activist declaration of exposing criminal and moral injustices.

Altared Truth Prayer Card
Washi tape, white-out on Catholic Prayer Cards
Diptych: 3.5"x5", 2019

Altared Truth Prayer Card
Medical tape on Catholic Prayer Cards
Diptych: 3.5"x5", 2019

Altared Truth Prayer Card
Nail Polish on Catholic Prayer Cards
Diptych: 3.5"x5", 2019

Altared Truth Prayer Card
Oil markers on Catholic Prayer Cards
Diptych: 3.5"x5", 2019

Altared Truth Prayer Card
Oil markers, X-acto knife on Catholic Prayer Cards
Diptych: 3.5"x5", 2019

Altared Truth Prayer Card
Imitation gold leaf, washi tape on Catholic Prayer Cards
Diptych: 3.5"x5", 2019

Altared Truth Prayer Card
Oil markers on Catholic Prayer Cards
Diptych: 3.5"x5", 2019

PROJECT STATEMENT

Altared Truths Catholic Prayer Cards

Altared Truths seeks to raise awareness of the widespread child abuse by the Catholic Church’s clergy that has led to billion-dollar cover-ups. The Church hierarchy of bishops and priests breached their vows to their God. They breached their role as pastors to their congregations by too often turning them into victims of unspeakable physical and emotional violence. For this series, I 'redact' both the front and back of Catholic Prayer Cards and pair them as a diptych to expose the disturbing juxtaposition between the façade of purity and the abuse of innocence. By drawing, taping, and scratching on the cards with familiar everyday household materials available to children/teens/families, I alter these cards using nail polish, X-Acto knives, oil markers, medical and washi tape. I see this project as an activist declaration of exposing criminal and moral injustices.