CARRIE MAE ROSE
WEARABLE WEAPONS
During preparations for her MFA thesis project, 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, the artist questioned the effectiveness of confiscating sharp objects from travelers. This curiosity led them to stumble upon a yard sale in Phoenix, where they encountered boxes filled with confiscated items, including scissors and corkscrews. Years later, the artist decided to repurpose these "threatening weapons" for their sculpture series, titled "Confiscated Weapons of Mass Construction."
Rose spent months in their studio constructing sculptures, exploring various forms, textures, and patterns. By repurposing these scissors, including using zip ties [used as handcuffs during mass arrests] to hold them together, the artist explored the fine line between creation and destruction. The circle form became a recurring motif, symbolizing unity and interconnectedness inspired by ancient yantra & mandala forms and sacred geometry. The sculptures evolved into wearable pieces, such as collars, bracelets, and breastplates, symbolizing vulnerability, protection, and healing.
Ultimately, the Rose's work with confiscated scissors serves as a reminder of our fragility and sacredness. They invite viewers to question their sources of security and safety in an ever-changing world. The sculptures not only empower and strengthen but also promote a sense of beauty and reverence for our own existence. Through her transformative journey, the Rose embraces the concept that seeking truth is the ultimate form of protection.
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Full list of past Wearable Weapon exhibitions coming soon..
The Sublime And The Vulnerable. The Art of Carrie Mae Rose
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AllSky SisterDresses of LightTetrahedronsOwl LadiesCarrie Mae Rose is an American fine artist known for her sculpture, installation, print, and performance work. Her practice integrates meditation-based visioning with research into alchemy, myth, and cultural narratives. She translates these inquiries into artworks that activate symbols such as wings, flames, lightning, and suns as devotional technologies—visual tools for resilience, reflection, and cultural transformation. Drawing on the traditions of thangkas, mandalas, yantras, and divine weapons, Rose reimagines symbolic forms as instruments for human clarity, collective strength, and a new culture of wisdom where each person feels safe enough to feel beautiful.
Carrie Mae Rose has been invited to participate in events with Santa Fe Public Library, New Mexico Dept of Health, Design Science Studio, Buckminster Fuller Institute, MoMA NYC, Brooklyn Museum, Eyebeam Art & Technology Center, Microsoft Social Computing Symposium, Rockefeller Cultural Innovation Fund, NY Hall of Science, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, IgniteNYC, Princeton Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department and Parsons the New School for Design. Rose holds a B.A. from Prescott College and an M.F.A. in Design & Technology from Parsons the New School for Design. She has exhibited work in numerous galleries & museums nationally and internationally.
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