HOW I CHOSE THE NAME EUCALYPSCHITZ

It started in my Junior year of art school with my suitemates & I calling each other by popular women’s names from the late 19th/early 20th century. Mine was "Eunice", (meaning “good victory” in Greek) which quickly developed into my artist alter-ego and then my primary identity after I debuted the character at my Senior Thesis show.

Delving into herbalism as a DIY practice, I discovered the energy of the Eucalyptus plant which shares a Greek etymology. This aromatic tree reminds us to be confident with our inner power when faced with challenges and that while taking off our armor may be risky, an important part of growth is exercising vulnerability. Be careful to not fire them up however - they might explode!

In a world dominated by masculine energy, I’ve struggled since a young age to feel my power and often find myself relating to Medusa’s desire for vengeance. With my choreographed performance of the “Cell Block Tango” as the character Lipschitz and participation in Rocky Horror Picture Show as a time-warper my first year of college, I was able to start the process of reclaiming my sexuality. 

Combining these three themes, I developed a muse around the concept of a Dark Horse, trampling over the forces that have robbed me of my power. It was a collage I bought at the Feminist Zine fest that sparked my interest in the medium & ignited my curiosity on the dichotomy of the Madonna/Whore archetypes. The print read “Always Too Much, Never Enough” which perfectly captured the self image I was internalizing over the years. Embracing it all, I feel most at home creating with a maximalist style.