Jigsaw Nation

In 2006 I was asked to create a

visual interpretation of Jigsaw

Nation, a theater piece performed

by the Relentless Theatre

Company. The artwork evolved

after watching workshop

performances of the piece and with

feedback from the Company’s

writers and producers.

Jigsaw Nation is presented as a

series of overlapping monologues

culled from hours of man-on-the-

street interviews that address the

question, “What does American

mean to you?” and thereby

creating a rich tapestry of stories

that reflects the American

experience.

"It's all about celebrating the

American spirit," explains

Relentless Theatre founding artistic director Olivia Honegger. "Although Americans are able to make their

voices heard through their right to vote, many feel their feelings fall on deaf ears. Responses to our question

have included words like 'freedom,' 'racism' and 'independence,' and have expressed such emotions as pride,

fear, and confusion. We try to reach out to every demographic, and voices heard in the play range from that of

a ship's captain living in Brooklyn to a survivor of the Cultural Revolution, from a U.S. solider in Iraq to a first

generation [East] Indian."

The New York Sun wrote, "Jigsaw Nation draws its considerable power from the startling immediacy of real

people's speech. As the five simply dressed actors turn from veteran to teenager, immigrant to red stater, the

script's uncanny ability to deliver the original voices intact makes the characters crackle with life."

I layered text within the artwork to suggest the multiplicity of voices within the play.  The portraits are both

individual and universal, as is the American, and human, experience.  Relentless Theatre is using this piece in

their promotional materials as they tour nationwide.

To learn more about Jigsaw Nation and the Relentless Theatre Company, visit www.relentlesstheatre.com.