summertime

With the opening of the play I'm working on, just under three weeks away, time has been cut short for anything extra besides painting and sleeping.....even the sleeping is questionable. The more I'm at the scene shop, the more I find myself dreaming of a lazy summer day at the beach. Preferably in one of these. all from Norma Kamali

what a woman may be

Meet Phyllis Schlafly, most commonly known as the "anti-feminist". I don't know about you, but hearing those words makes me stop, go back and read that again. Really? There is a woman who is anti-feminist? And there is an article about her in the Times?

Lest you think me ignorant, I realize there are many anti-feminist women out there. In fact, during the late 1800s, early 1900s , when women were pushing for their freedom and the right to vote, there were a great deal of "anti-feminists" spreading as much propaganda as the side we hear so often about. And ask anyone of my mother's generation, they all know Phyllis Schlarfly. She is as iconic as feminist, Gloria Steinem.

But in today's society, feminism is just accepted. Of course, there are the "wacko feminists" out there that we all hear about, but overall, every woman is just expected to be feminist. I immediately flash back to the WWII poster of Rosie the Riveter. We grow up thinking this way. Go women.
Unfortunately, other than, "girl power" or "go women", many women my age and younger have little knowledge of the feminist movement history or how it matters to us today. And I'll be perfectly honest, I only know as much as I do considering my grad work centered on the topic.

It's not a topic we really study in school, much less hear any controversy about in the media. We always hear the feminist viewpoint and that "go women" mantra is repeated to us in commercials. Don't take me wrong here, I greatly respect the goal of those commercials....to raise self-esteem and remind girls that we can be anything we dream to be.

Suzanne Braun Levine speaks of feminism in 2009, "I have a 22-year-old daughter who cannot really comprehend that when I got married, I was unable to take out a loan without my husband's signature, or that jobs were listed [as] male and female in the paper. It's inconceivable to her. On the one hand, that's a good thing because it means that she is somewhere else, that she doesn't have to deal with those things. On the other hand, it's a bad thing because she doesn't realize what a struggle women have in most societies."

Coming from the same generation as her daughter, I'd readily agree with her two statements. Feminism has done a world of good. But one must also realize, the feminism of Susan B. Anthony and the feminism of Betty Friedan are worlds apart.

Phyllis Schlafly says of feminism in her interview, "The feminist movement is not about success for women. It is about treating women as victims and about telling women that you can't succeed because society is unfair to you, and I think that's a very unfortunate idea to put in the minds of young women because I believe women can do whatever they want. Feminists don't honor successful women. You never hear them talking about Margaret Thatcher. Take Condoleezza Rice. She's a remarkable, successful woman. You don't hear the feminists talk about her or Carly Fiorina or Jeanne Kirkpatrick. They don't talk about them because they are just determined to preach this idea that women are unfairly treated in our society and they need legislation and government and taxpayers' money in order to get them a fair break. 

"

Both sides have valid points, really. And like everything in the world, there must be a balance. In many arguments, I'd say the anti-feminists are right. The feminists from the 1970s to today have swung way past their original goal....way beyond equality. Then again, I can't imagine living in a world without the freedom that feminism has granted us. Feminists are correct on so many levels.

The key here, in my opinion is go back to the beginning.....back to the roots. Understand where we, as women, have come from, what we have fought through and who we need to idolize.
There is so much clutter in society today. Stop. Reflect. Look to the past. How can we see where we are going, if we don't know where we came from?

Labor 2008 mixed media

Labor is a piece I did about a year ago this time with the same message as the last sentence of the previous paragraph. It is primarily made with a heavy duty watercolor paper that was painted, stamped, photo-transferred and written on. Then I went back through and stitched the paper to look like a quilt.

I chose the quilt as the vehicle to convey my message because of the significant symbolism it holds in woman's history. When you look at the top of a beautiful quilt, you see the brilliant colors, patterns and shapes. But if you were to unstitch the top from the back and turn it over, you'd find loose strings, raw edges and the underside of the colorful fabric.....you'd visually see the work that went into the thing of beauty.

Labor is the backside of a quilt. So often we, as women, easily forget the long years of toil and sacrifices that went into giving us freedom....the right to vote....equality. We have a rich and beautiful heritage.

close ups of Labor
click for more detail

artistic heartbeat

detail of "Onslaught"
click for closer view

Many thanks to the kind comments of Lenorenevermore and dapper kid concerning my last post! Although there seems to be quite the controversy among the public whether Dove's efforts are genuine or not, seeing as they are a beauty company, I highly respect their campaign.
And I'd say dapper kid unknowingly described my artistic mantra best with his comment,

"It is a shame that we seem to have this one ideal
of beauty pushed upon us by the media,
and when looking around that beauty is not common,
nor does one see it in most couples.
After all finding something beautiful is unique to us all,
and we all see beauty in the most remarkably different things.
That is the best part of life"

I could dedicate this entire blog to body image and the role it plays within the history of women. Much of my artwork is focused on visually portraying what is means to be a women today. I was impressed to work on such an overwhelming topic after countless talks with friends and students, all sharing their hearts....and of course, my own struggles.
Since it is my "artistic heartbeat", I'm positive this topic will creep up again.
Helping others see the beauty in life, especially in others is my passion.

labeled

I happened across a fascinating article this morning entitle Perk and Work. The feature story of Vogue.com caught my attention with the title, "The audaciously augmented American body, Sally Singer argues, is fashion's latest challenge", not to mention the picture was full of mannequins. So I clicked.
The article goes on to describe how, over the past 20 years or so, the "worked body" has become a new body type and designers are either having to work with it or ignore it. My summary does not do the article justice. It's better to read it in person. And like I first stated, I find it intriguing.

Labeled, mixed media, 8x16
click for more detail

There are several thoughts concerning the topic in my head but honestly, the first, no, third thought that came to mind was a piece I did a year ago. It is somewhat of a collage, with the antique label holders sewn on to the painting as well as a photo transfer of an antique advertisement.
This article haunts me to this day and probably always will. The picture of the stunning woman centered with the title above her head, "What makes a woman beautiful?" is burned in my memory. The question is as complex and varied in answer as the question, "What is art?". Who can really define beauty? The Greeks did but even then every culture around the world has a different standard of beauty.
And even as complex as this question is, we all have an answer to it. Be it nature or nurture, every single person breathing has an opinion on the matter.
For this piece of art, I chose not to answer it myself, but to take answers from society. You might remember, Dove's beauty campaign and the several commercials they made to promote positive body image? Most people will quickly recognize the billboards with the plethora of women...all different colors and sizes wearing white undergarments.
Well, I went to the commonplace meeting room of society, YouTube, looked up Dove's commercial and then spent a great deal of time reading the posted comments. Everyone has an opinion.
Those opinions were lifted and slipped into antique label holders to answer that burning question, What makes a woman beautiful?"
Everyone is quick to label beauty. And everyone has been labeled by society.

detail of Labeled
click to read some of the answers

and we're back!

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.

There are very few times in life you can just drop everything and go. The past two weeks have been just that for me. A cruise to the carribean proved to be a much needed break in the midst of this seemingly never-ending stretch to spring.
Our first destination spot was Key West, Fl. An almost instant love with the "Conch Republic" ensued. The beautiful city sparkled with color and a personality unlike any other I have seen before.
Two major observances I had while strolling the city streets were, 1. no one was on a cell phone. ( I almost felt guilty for using mine) 2. no one was dressed what i would consider "fashionably".
These people were all so laid back. Extremely laid back. Nothing really mattered to them. All that thought and planning that I had put into my outfit for the day seemed in vain....frivolous even compared to the care-free atmosphere. Don't get me wrong. I didn't regret being put together, but I couldn't help but notice that no one else but obvious tourists cared much about presentation. My mind ping-ponged for a while until the thought struck me. "Maybe this is a whole different style I just don't understand because I don't live here. It is an entirely different climate, way of life, etc" It was then that I purposed to try a simpler tropical fashion with my own little twist, inspired by the vibrant city. Enter paint pants stage right.

old navy top, custom-made paint splattered jeans, ae sandals,
handmade necklace (gift!) bracelet unkown

Bonus advice gleaned from trip to key west: If you ever are having a low self-esteem point in life, vacation in key west. I have never received so many compliments in one day at one time....hair, eyes, outfit, etc. The friendliness of the city guarantees conversations! :)