WW5: Ah, Motherland!

so- now some of the photos are up-

it is such an amazing process to make this. I built the skeleton out of wood and copper piping.
I am using paper mache to create the form, then using liquid rubber to coat it. I am using a foam filler to hold it in place.

I am really excited about this!

pictures….

I have spent a bit of time (ok a lot) both painting and making my sculpture.

The beginning rough paintings follow below- one of which deviates from what I had originally planned….

(there are so many pics of the sculpture that I made its own page – look at ‘pages’ on the right to view them)

This first image is 2 of the four panels-
they will not be touching each other- and they will not make up the complete image of the woman

click on the thumbnail please.

I’m not sure how many of you are checking the blog on a rainy night before WW meeting, but here goes. I have been working on these, but hit a snag this week when I left the knitting at my weekend job. I won’t be done with everyone’s wristicuff by tomorrow, although I have high hopes that I can finish the ones that I have color specs for. If you didn’t tell me a color, but have a color you DON’T want, please let me know. Also, if something is wrong on this list, please correct me either in comments or on email.

Here’s what i have so far:

Ingrid- Olive with Eggplant “W”- FINISHED

Doris- Dark Blue with Beige “W”- FINISHED- (if i have time I’ll make alterations)

Jennifer- Teak with Yellowey “W”- FINISHED

Jasmine- Yellowey with Tomato “W”- FINISHED

Stephanie- Pink with Black “W”- FINISHED

Borah- (no color specs)

Jarah- (no color specs)

Molly- (no color specs)

let me know if any of this is wrong. Pictures will follow soon.

* I think I’ll just try to make a few of varying colors and have them up for choice. I’m not sure I can get them done before tomorrow though… I did 3 today.

This is the last in the three that I will use for the show. I am also planning on developing a drawing or two. Here are sketch images of those:

In terms of my statement, I am working on something regarding the historical metaphor of Ships of State.  This is an old term dating back to ancient texts by Horace.  It has also been used all the way up until now.  I am terribly interested in the metaphor and am also looking into what it means to be a spectator of shipwrecks as well.  Here are the readings I’m researching:

Shipwreck with Spectator, Hans Blumenberg

Ship of State, Norma Thompson

The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, A. T. Mahan

with more to find, I’m sure.

I’m also working on a surprise which is unfair to announce, but nonetheless I have done so.  So prepare for a surprise, or a letdown.  Just prepare.

1. I bought a digital camera last night. Thank you Uncle Sam for my fat tax refund.

2. The Love Project has taken over my kitchen, and now I can actually show you what I’ve been trying to describe in words. Just ignore the microwave and refrigerator and it will be just like the real thing.

These pictures should give you a pretty good idea of my project. I’ve collected dozens of names (haven’t counted yet, but email submissions alone were over 100) and strung them on fishing line. Each line has a weight at the bottom that allows the line to move and twist with air currents without flying all over the place. I like having them in my kitchen, they make me happy.

I’m still working on stitching together the envelopes. I’m definitely picturing this in a corner location, if that’s all right with everyone else. I’ll be bringing everything, including the famous Love Box, on Sunday. You can still submit a name! I’m reserving a bunch of names for the actual installation process; I’ll add names to each line if they look too short with the high ceiling, or else make a new line or two.

    

 

 

 

Photo of the gallery space at the library.The gallery is beautiful, but quite large. I am confident that our show will do it justice. Jaz and I will be submitting an application to use the space. Let’s get our butts in gear so that the exhibition kicks ass!!!

PLEASE POST UPDATES ON YOUR PROJECTS. See you all Sunday!

Critique:

“ i – d o l l ”
| Jaz | artist |

Painted each doll with wonder women bikini outfit – each doll has unrealistic hair color. Some dolls are dismembered without legs, arms, and head. Has ideas to use photos as backdrops for scenes and narratives. Considers the painting of the body as “factory work.” Has pictures posted on blog of dolls before and after that are posed/modeled. Toys with lighting. The progress of dolls, placed in various positions. Wants dolls to look like comic books, along with Mattel advertisement, with a political commentary. Observer has permission to do what ever you want with dolls.

Discussion & Feedback: Karen Carpenter’s use of used Barbie Dolls (Film: Super Star). Images are very strong; have a good response. Investigation of a series; images and photos are powerful in their own simple set up, and their meaning. Located in a place of imagination and playfulness; fantastical qualities. Imagination is magical and energetic. Toys shape the future in some ways as they influence and are positioned. They can also become sadistic, strange, and illusionary. The images are pushing a conversation; and yet they do not need a conversation. Only the bra changes (as well as the variety of dismemberment) and shows individuality.

Suggestion: Continue to play and keep it simple. “It is very important to play.” Intention, power, and disinterest.

“A Diplomatic Tight Rope”
| Jennifer | artist |

Triptych – Altarpiece influence. Viewer is not used to only getting a part of the image or the object/nude female. The cropping of the center, the abbreviation, is great. The center of altarpieces is the celebration/resolution, which is very interesting in this piece, and seems to be looking at her breasts. Has the effect of wanting to sit and stare.

Suggestion: To consider the amount of space in-between the canvas. The canvases could be put together hinged and therefore, able to move. They could also be positioned as wardrobe mirrors. The receding space gives off a dimension of awkwardness in time, history, and balance.

“fEmpower“
| Stephanie | artist |

Pieces that deal with consumerism and identity…Digested last week’s critique of dung and menstruation. Bottled some menstruation and researched images of perfume bottles. Currently struggling for materials. Final piece: a series of cosmetic boxes set up differently (one that is closed, one that is open). One perfume bottle will have fake blood to evoke menstruation and body odor in ‘pussé’ another on ‘voice,’ and the third on ‘de-visible shields’ (women feel invisible). Wants to package these items as perfume. Questions the covering up of pheromones with perfume.

Suggestion: Model performance artist with or demonstrating the product, the blood; provide the audience with “stick” samples. Will continue thinking about having a demonstration video, photos, or live. Will have a pyramid of boxes to “sell.” Is this piece anti-vanity? Or body empowering – not to hide the essential parts of women’s bodies. Color of boxes are red, blue & yellow. Perfume becomes pusse, a compact becoming de-visible shields (without a mirror), and lipstick, Binaca, or cell phone becomes an empowering voice (to speak more or what you really mean).

“ GenderFuck Revisited“
| Jarah | artist |

Four paneled piece connected by a chain; oil painting; main image is a woman stepping. 36 X 48 inches; the panels form a metamorphosis going from ‘woe-man’ (a woe-is-me woman). The individual is trying to be what a ‘woman’ is supposed to be and transforms into a ‘womyn’ – a person that is just who she is, not what society tells her she needs to be. This relates to paintings the artist has done 8 years ago. Artist plans in the future to make this piece into sculpture form.

Suggestion: Paintings will be quickly done in one-week. Other artists are excited about seeing both painting and sculpture form. Very minimal concern about the paintings being oil and might not be dry for the final show.

“ye, Pirate Bold”
| Mary Jay | artist |

Triptych paintings; oil; ships abandoned or in the act of destruction. Main story is of the captain Chackleton who kept very detailed journals. His ship the ‘Endurance’ sank due to a major ice flow, but the entire crew survived in Antarctica. This machine, operating on its own, powered by the earth, with all its supplies on board, a community with its own set of rules and regulations, and its destruction. This is appropriated for the artist who wants to be on her own ship, her own captain, her own leader. Fantasizes about being a respected leader who leads her ship across the open sea in past history after arduous schooling; receiving a medal. Loves the story of Master and Commander. Reads the jargon and conversation of books on historical ships.
Suggestions: Mary should start her own ship society; She would like to make her own ship in a bottle since she is so into the craftsmanship and learning that goes into that vessel management. Resist being blindly passionate. To focus on gender; a man’s world and their agency, as well as their social expectations. The captain is a bit like a ‘superman.’ The ship is a bit like a ‘motorcycle.’ How does it relate to feminism? Artist explains: “I am a girl that likes historic boats.” The artist wants to celebrate the ships that were destroyed. The rich still reside on boats and ships. Shanty songs?

“ All my bras and their functions“
| Borah | artist |

Handout piece of accordion booklet with photo snap shots of the artist in various bras. One version is hand held (has an intimate effect) and the other is tripod (has a magazine effect). Figuring whether to keep both versions. Wants to make a flipbook of the artist taking off her shirt to reveal her bra underneath. Would like the reaction from women to be “o I like that bra.” From men, would like the reaction to go beyond the picture and read hopefully the text. Each bra has a purpose and the text will detail each. Bras conceal the artist’s nipples. The artist wants to create more images of Asian women; using text alongside the self-portraits. Some form of empowerment and confrontation in some of the images versus the anonymous and indifferent versions.

Suggestion: To add text to the images. What do you want male viewers to think or how would you like them to react? Is it about choice and functionality? Is it about resisting objectification? Will the text be more about functionality or a political commentation? Why is the bra lacy? Is it for me or for others? Are bras performative? Artist will write text and continue to think about challenging her piece.

Discussion Three
April 9th, 2006

1st hour:

Answer these 3 questions on a piece of paper for discussion:
1. What is your greatest love/passion in life?
2. What is your greatest hate/what despises you?
3. List two things about yourself that you really like.

Various Answers (Anonymous):

1. The ability to connect with others | Creativity | See the finished product | Travel | The experience of seeing something for the first time | Conversation (real & imagined ie. Cindy Sherman) | What I am involved in ie. everything current | Art & conversation; the dynamic between people | Things that are ugly & beautiful; discovering what’s different between the two | Discovering truth (& what it makes it the same) | Experiencing & learning from new things & improving the self | Community (the power of the group/collective) & fostering that; the democratic ideal of mobs empowering themselves): a key to individual empowerment | choice | seeing things in a positive light | people who take the first step |

2. Pain, disrespect, violence, hate, victimization, and voyeuristic intrusion | disempowerment (discrimination or intentional humiliation even for entertainment) | a large scale debate getting derailed due to interpersonal issues | the whole world; thus letting go & separating society from the individual (or not be around it; take part in it)| politics | ignorance | hate racism (within and outside of support groups) | false advertisement (even of a country ie. America) | racial tensions | prejudice | objectification | assumptions | exclusion | pigeon holing | scapegoat | PRIVILEGE |

3. One of a kind | Seeker of the self, society and interconnection | Determined | Loving | Patient | Humor | Positive spin on things | Passionate; really take things on to the fullest | loyal & 100% | Ability to change | Quickly adapts to skills | Ability to see multiple perspectives | Self-control | Negotiator | Defuser | Explore new things | Risk and open | Ability to love individual people easily (& continue despite disappointment)| Understanding emotion & using that to help others | Cheerful | Read others’ needs | Form connections | Empathy | Curiosity (vital to creativity & change & question) | Cool blend (mixed race)| Love is strong | Strong lover | Presence (height) | Confidence |

Conclusion of warm-up: Important to sit down and reflect; to appreciate oneself; to empower oneself and love oneself. To focus on the positive; Good to share

New topic(s):

1. Feminism: What’s next, what else, what identity? Titles…Wanting to identify as artist and not “feminist artist.”
2. Being political but not politicized (resist being pigeon holed; being fearful)
3. Where are the guerrilla girls now? Do we need the “guerrilla girls” at all times and how to continue this and establish it as a continuum? Group in Brooklyn (Brain Storming: new project doing a survey on women artists and gave hand outs about the representation of women in Chelsea).

Tagging artwork as feminist; resisting a mold & labels; fearing the tag; wanting individuality (self-discovery); being a spokesperson; historically feminism is a straight white women’s movement that does not always relate to contemporary “feminists” which are all very “fragmented and multiple.”

Question: What is wrong with the term feminism? One answer: Sick and tired of already being the other and feminism is another “other.” The word feminism “is a headache.” Hating assumption and classification of “feminist.” Response: You cannot let other people take that away from you, so then to hate “feminism” and isolate self from a supportive community (where is that community)? Just as what happened to the words “liberal,” “political,” or “progressive,” it has been made an ugly term.

Discussion: White conservative men have villianized the word feminism and allowed for fracturing to happen; Inclusive | Power | Exclusive; Why should we let anyone take that away from us? We need to start re-claiming these terms or make something new up (recycle). If you don’t start re-claiming you will have nothing. We cannot be angry all the time; But we need to be empowered, connected, supported, and create new labels. To call it a problem is not being whiney – it’s a fucking fact. “My work is not wanted in a fucking gallery.” The reason we still need a movement is because its not equal, not fixed, not solved or resolved. It is not inclusive. We need to include one another and embody, empower, inspire, and support one another. You are still a women artist. You need to make that a point of empowerment. Women give up as artists because of a lack of inclusion, competing for 10 %, and not being recognized. Women need to commit! Financially as well… Its dangerous not to have groups like _gaia. Need to be resourceful… We need to open up our own gallery…

The struggle is important to withstand. Again, the struggle is vital to withstand. It is not sacrificial, it’s a lifestyle, and it IS the art in itself.

Question: Who will not buy our art?

2nd Hour:

Countering models and creating new models. That is healthy. Just because you are the women in the room, you are still a person who can create alternatives to the rooms.

Discussion: misconception that one must adhere to the art system in order to feel that you are checking off the checklist. Hesitation to say one is an artist; even though one is an artist (beyond doing the work and showing in galleries). Women are not supported and embellished to be artists. Most male artists have patrons and supporters; entitlement. Must feel unafraid and not hesitate to look for or accept support. (Getting something in return). The term “art world.” There are many art worlds (so fuck it)…

Question: Why can’t we call ourselves what we want to? Because the more we give up terms, the more we allow that to be taken, and thus give them up. This is also about intimidation.

“The smiling and nodding has allowed the propagation of systems to continue to exist.”

Question: When we advertise our show.

Resources:
Teen Girl Squad
Brain Stormers
Artists formerly Known as Women
Women and Refrigerators
Women Made Gallery (a model we may adopt; all women owned and shown space)
— doesn’t speak of political angles (love/hate weight of the name)
Franklin Furnace
Guerrilla Girls
Missing Pixel (workshop @ Hunter) – lack of women in the design/technology industry
– non-profit political work (ITP alumnae) who work mostly on grant basis.
Dyke Action Machine
Dyke T.V.
Bluestockings Book Store

Interesting new titles:
Women | Maid Gallery

*This* Friday @ R&R

We have a few shows coming up as we plan our two week tour with Lismore for late May! Check our website or myspace for exact details! New one-of-a-kind merch will be making its appearance at one of our shows…

*THIS* Friday 4|14 @ R&R*
416 W 14th Street
(9th Ave & Washington St)
$10 – We play @ 8 PM SHARP!
w/ Human Television, Bravo Silva and Baby Dayliner

Future NYC show dates:

*Tuesday 5|2 SIN-E*
150 Attourney Street @ Stanton St
We play @ 10 PM SHARP!
w/ Lismore

*Sunday 5|14 169 BAR
Cult Hero Showcase
w/Lismore, Electric Lights Flashing Very Fast, & Huma

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