‘Known locally for their simplistic art installations with a deep message, ‘White Girl Wasted’ at New Fruit was a capsule of discovery through the use of string lights, clothespins, a highly effective message about self-truth, and several selfies of this beautiful human named Jessica Lauren Lipton. A brilliant display full of embodied imagination as a part of Installation Fest, I am was incredibly impressed with the event and wish I had the opportunity to see the conclusion of its art. I simply can’t wait to see what lesson Jessica has for us next.

— CHRISTINA W. RICHARDSON, PortFringe 2019 Review Team

White Girl Wasted was a perfect addition to the Fringe Instillation Fest. Contemplative, direct and simple the piece focused on the underbelly of drinking culture and the very real effects it has on those that are caught in it. Raw and relatable, I would recommend following up on what this artist does next. ( Here’s hoping we will get to see this piece fleshed out even more in the future!)

— TARRA BOUCHARD, PortFringe 2019 Review Team

My experience of stepping into the installation of White Girl Wasted at New Fruit was that of confession and fortitude. On the walls hung a vast series of selfies of artist Marissa Gold and playing through speakers and echoing through the rooms was a series of her confessions around the struggles of her eventual sobriety. Deeper into the space we had the option to watch as she went through the process of deconstructing her selfies by violently throwing shot glasses of Everclear and salt at the photos, causing the ink to drip from the selfie, allowing the colors to blur and dismantle the image. It’s a really cool effect and was perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the installation. Gold herself wore a tank with the wording “White Girl Wasted” and baseball cap pulled deep down almost shielding her eyes completely. This was a solitary act that we were experiencing – she was not here to entertain but to go through this arduous yet seemingly crucial act of destroying her former self. Audiences were given the options to either listen to the projected audio, read the manuscript, or go deep into Gold’s website to find the audio clips to listen individually via smart phone and ear buds. I chose the projected audio since it was the easiest and most accessible option for me but I do wonder, had it been easier to access the individual audio if maybe I would have felt a deeper connection with her story? For all of her deep confessions around the painful path toward sobriety I left the installation craving a little more depth and enlightenment.

— Anonymously submitted – PortFringe 2019 Review Team