The menses of Lizzie Borden has been examined since her trial in the late 19th century for the murder of her stepmother and father in Fall River, Mass. The prosecution’s search for blood evidence brought Lizzie’s clothes under close scrutiny. A police audit of the Borden sisters’ wardrobe revealed a total of 18 dresses fitting the description of the one worn by Lizzie on the day of the murders, that is, blue cotton with a floral figure. The lack of blood evidence distinguished this trial. The prosecution could only find a single blood spot the size of a pinhead on one of Lizzie’s skirts. Lizzie replied at the inquest, “I told those men…that I had had fleas: that is all.” “Having fleas” was a Victorian euphemism for menstruating.
The performance played out over a five day period with Campbell wearing a different dress each day and carving a soap sculpture effigy of each member of the Borden household. The actions were only seen through a live feed video. The “evidence” of the actions was tagged and displayed in the gallery at the end of each day.
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