CARRIE MAE ROSE

Carrie Mae Rose acquired 75 pounds of TSA confiscated scissors from eBay. Inspired by the post-9/11 security measures and the impact on personal belongings, Rose questions the effectiveness of confiscating sharp objects from travelers and ultimately asking, "What makes people feel safe?" She decided to repurpose these items thaat were confiscated during the era of Weapons of Mass Destruction for her sculpture series, titled Confiscated Weapons of Mass Construction.

Rose constructed sculptures, exploring various forms, textures, and patterns with scissors and later razor blades. By repurposing these potentially dangerous objects, using zip ties [used as handcuffs during mass arrests] to hold them together, she explores the fine line between beauty and safety. The circle form is a recurring motif, symbolizing unity and interconnectedness inspired by ancient yantras, mandala forms and sacred geometry. The fine art sculptures evolved into temporary wearable pieces for photoshoots and couture events. Collars, bracelet cuffs, and breastplates are placed on the body as provocative under garments that expose the skin and vulnerability and beauty of the human form.

These sculptures invite viewers to question their sources of security and safety in a world that is hungry for purity and power. Through her own transformative journey studying how we are all being culturally groomed by media and technology that channels images and content directly into our subconscious mind. How does one find autonomy and sovereignty in a time when we are all innudated with so much visual content? We each often have 1000s of images a day doing straight into our inner world.

This series is being revisited with scissor skirts, razor blade lace, corsets and gowns being built for an exhibition in 2026. Rose's studies led her to teach her workshop series Indestructible Beauty. The documentary Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons was an eductional revelation and led down many rabbit holes and ah ha moments around growning up in Mall Culture in the late 80s and early 90s. Rose learned that Lex Wexner owned The Limited & Victoria's Secret and was the biggest fund / financier of Jeffrey Epstein. Rose's mission with her art and her life is to educate and empower women and bring back into balance the power sickness rampant in our culture. Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. -MLK

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Full list of past Wearable Weapon exhibitions coming soon.. 🚧

The Sublime And The Vulnerable. The Art of Carrie Mae Rose