Branks, 2018-20.

Branks has its roots in a device that was created in the 16th century to silence women in England and Scotland. Also known as a Scold's Bridle, it was a metal headpiece that was locked onto a woman's head and included a metal plate that went into her mouth so she could not speak, swallow, eat or drink. Often it was the woman's husband who used the device.

When I first saw this image, I had a deep visceral reaction - I could taste the metal in my mouth. I knew that I had to make something in response. I decided to create face pieces that women would wear that would do the opposite of these torture devices. My Branks amplify women's voices, make noise, draw attention to our mouths and generally take up a lot of space.

As I began to make these objects and share them with other women, I noticed a large range of reactions to them. Some women laughed, some left the room in horror and everything in between. No one was neutral. It became clear that my Branks were meant to share with women and to use as a way of beginning a conversation among us about our experiences being silenced or having a voice.

With support from ArtsNL, I made a total of 40 branks and took them around the province to groups of women. A publication documenting these gathering with photographs and an essay by Dr. Rie Croll is forthcoming.