While living in New York in the 1960s and 70s, Girouard embraced new forms of video and performance art. She began to experiment more in her own work, incorporating non-traditional media. After moving back to her home state of Louisiana, Girouard traveled regularly to Haiti, where she eventually lived from 1990 to 1995 to learn the art of vodou prayer flags. These beaded and sequined flags honor the unseen spirits, or “Iwa,” and act as an intermediator between the human and spirit realms.

Girouard collaborated with Antoine Oleyant and other renowned sequin artists to learn about the cultural and technical aspects of this art form. Survive depicts a Swiss Army Knife, opened to display the multitude of tools, among an abstract swirling backdrop adorned with leaves. This work is part of the artist’s own “Iwa” series, made to honor and respect the flag-making tradition.