Merit Badges

GRAPHITE ON PAPER, BALLPOINT PEN ON CLIPBOARDS, CUSTOM WOVEN PATCHES & UNIFORM ON TAILOR'S DUMMY _  DIMENSIONS VARIABLE _ ONGOING (2015-PRESENT)

Initiated in 2015, the Merit Badge Project represents an attempt to incentivize completion of self-assigned tasks and personal challenges and to use art to guide experience rather than reflect upon it. It appropriates achievement systems originally situated in military and scout organizations, which are now universally experienced via video games and apps. After satisfactory completion of each task, a hand-drawn original badge design is translated for production and fabricated as a small edition woven patch, which is then sewn onto a custom-made uniform. Over time the patches accumulate as a visual record of a personal narrative of intention and accomplishment.

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Each Merit Badge is fabricated in an edition of 50 and is available for purchase at $15. Please email travis.head.art@gmail.com to place an order.