Trauma Bunnies / Leave Me Alone ... - Jennifer McCloskey

Full title: Trauma Bunnies / Leave Me Alone / I Didn’t Want it so He Gave Me a Sweater 
Faux fur, felt, ceramic
around 5"x15"x18" for each
 
(Grey bunny - I didn't want it so he gave me a sweater) The first in my Stuffed Series. This one speaks to PTSD, male gaze, and feelings from the materiality of the pieces. The faux fur is very soft and the head at the bottom acts of vaginal shield. Healing piece. There is a lot of her that I still do not understand, but in my process it will come through time.

(Black bunny- Leave me Alone) Another in my Stuffed Series. It speaks to my earlier years of trauma and feelings of masking and disassociating. The materiality of these pieces acts as a comfort in my healing. It also, however, serves as a vessel and physical representation of my trauma. With discussions with my therapist, we have come to the conclusion that the bunnies represent my feelings of freeze response during times of assault and trauma. Neither of them really have mouths, but have staring (creepy to some) eyes. I included them together because together they form a better picture than separated.

My trauma bunnies are manifestations of my responses to specific traumas. After discussions with my therapist, we have come to the conclusion that they represent my feelings of freeze in times of assault. They speak to my PTSD, the male gaze, feelings of prey, and feelings of masking and disassociating. The materiality of thee pieces are a comfort in my healing, but also serve as a vessel.