Dona Michelle Seder
Statement: Active research in the current happenings of reality television, specifically the Bachelor franchise, conducts my latest work. Bachelor Nation is my muse. After viewing The Bachelor and all of its spin-offs for 10 years, I have begun to see reality television in a different way. I now watch with a critical eye not only from a cultural perspective, but also from a statistical one.
Bachelor Nation is a reflection of mainstream American culture, and this has never been more apparent than it is right now. Not only am I drawing parallels to our quarantine bubble and the extreme isolation the contestants endure each season, but I am also studying the ways systemic racism has endured and festered within the franchise, only being addressed in a serious way due to George Floyd’s killing last summer - resulting in the first Black bachelor.
Season 25 is especially relevant in our climate of holding people in power (white men) accountable. The host of the show since 2002, Chris Harrison, recently made racist comments and defended a contestant’s racist past in an interview with the franchise’s first Black bachelorette Rachel Lindsey setting a whirlwind of support for BIPOC contestants from past contestants and forcing ABC to possibly replace Chris Harrison.
Playfully highlighting the fantasy of reality TV, I depict the on-going season of “The Bachelor” set at Nemacolin Woodland Resort, as a chateau in the clouds. Embracing humor as a strategy, contestants are shrouded in judgement and gossip. I look into Bachelor Nation not only with parody and derision, but also with empathy and compassion for the subjects that are the puppets of a larger narrative.
Bio: Donna Michelle Seder (also known as Shelly) grew up in Swan Valley, MT and lives in Olympia, WA. Shelly balances a career as a graphic designer while pursuing a studio practice in painting and mixed media. In her practice she has used a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, wax and embroidery thread, and plastic beads. Shelly’s current work is informed by the fantasy of reality tv, the issues surrounding it, and the humanizing of featured contestants. This series consists of one oil painting per episode of The Bachelor season 25.
Shelly has been playing pop music for 16 years, going by her alter ego pop star name and persona, Donna. Donna sings for the pop project, XOHNO. XOHNO has released two full length albums and created a handful of music videos.
Her life was upgraded when her daughter, Golden Casio, was born at 2.5 lbs in 2017. This tiny human brought out Shelly’s courage and confidence and has inspired much of her artistic work. She is currently earning her BA at The Evergreen State College, class of 2022.