In Joysticks, Elisabeth Jacobsen presents a large-scale installation that celebrates spirit and the power of community. Conceived in the summer of 2024 during Kamala Harris's presidential campaign and inspired by the candidate's frequent invocation of joy, the work embraces visual exuberance through a vivid palette and dynamic composition.

The installation reflects Jacobsen's interest in creating work that responds to the cultural moment while fostering connection through shared creativity. Working with her longstanding practice of incorporating found and discarded materials, Jacobsen discovered bamboo, a material she viewed as particularly meaningful. Known for its durability and flexibility, bamboo serves as both a natural element and a symbol of resilience and growth. Brightly colored forms are further animated as the artist plays with surface details, which provide a visual richness.

Throughout the creation of Joysticks, Jacobsen considered the importance of her immediate community and the collaborative relationships that have informed many of her past projects. Elaborating on this, Jacobsen said, “…so here too I invited my sister Andrea Jacobsen, my niece Cortney Jacobsen, and my close friend Carol Massa to add their marks to a stick. I deeply valued our collective attention to create and connect us to the notion of joy.”