PORTRAIT:BETH

After an in-depth interview about her keys, I silkscreened a poster of each location with its respective key shape. Through Beth’s description of utility and place, we begin to get a sense of Beth without having to see her face at all.

The following is each print paired with her description of the location.

THE BREAKDOWN

My keys are color coded.

I have three sets of spare keys for the Baltimore place. One of which is in studio and the other is with a friend.

THE BUILDING DOOR

Living in Baltimore I have three locks on each door. I have a front door and a back door.

So, to get in the front door, this key lets me into the building.

THE APARTMENT DOOR

This key lets me into the bolt lock on my door, and this lets me into the knob on my door. So, that’s the front entrance.

THE BACK DOOR

And then I have a back door that I primarily use. This is the knob and this is the bolt.

If you notice that if it’s big and round, it’s for the knob. And if it’s for the bolt, it’s small.

THE BASEMENT STORAGE

I have a key to my storage unit downstairs in the basement in my house.

I don’t have on here right now my key to my bike lock, or my car key because the loop holder thing broke off.

THE NEIGHBORS' KEYS

One of these goes to the basement, and the other ones go to the building next door, which is also owned by the management company.

They use our laundry, so they need to get into our building, but I’m not sure why I would need to get into their building.

THE STUDIO

I have a key to my file cabinet here at studio.

That's pretty funny. I just noticed that with the lime green and orange all of my favorite colors are here too. My keys color coordinate with my desk.

THE BACK GATE

If I want to go in the back entrance, one of these keys lets me into the gate.

I don’t actually lock the gate, but I want to keep it on hand in case someone else locks the gate.

THE BACK PORCH

I think this goes to the back porch door just off my bedroom on the top floor. I'm pretty sure that door is stuck—I haven't tried to open it in a long time.

THE KEYS

A monotype silkscreen poster.

Using the silhouette of each of her keys, I printed each one on top of the other. For each key color, I chose to use the dominant color scheme of the original key. Eight different keys were used in the print.

KEYLOCK PATTERN

Using the shape of each of the keyholes Beth's keys goes into, I created a pattern to silkscreen over a photograph of her apartment building.
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