'sky warrior II . . . ' in pictures

as usual it began with chicken wire

used colored wires (reds and pinks) to create shape by weaving it through the chicken wire.

first make-shift work station, holding up the bodice so that i could start the skirt,
 set up in the living room with the a/c

my faithful sidekick, scruffy . . .
also enjoying the a/c

close-up detail of the skirt

then hung the dress from the ceiling by a branch so i could continue to grow the skirt

wired heart for inside the dress

installation . . . 

arrived at park in hopkinton, ma. with an 8 foot ladder, but that wasn't nearly enough!!!

So my wonderful assistant, daughter Harriet, and I began to improvise . . . 

here i am attempting to toss the spool of fishing line over the desired branch.

with some minor adjustment from my lovely assistant

voila!!

successfully installed!!

opening reception:

part of Cathy Weaver Taylor's installation

it's a beautiful trail

beautiful sand art at the beginning of the trail/exhibit

the exhibit runs until the end of September, with a

poetry reading/gathering on Sept. 19th, 2:00

the exhibit and trail are located across from:

the Hopkinton Lumber Co. 

118 Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748

this sculpture was inspired by 'sky warrior . . . ' the first commissioned and purchased dress was the 'dressproject' and which lives outside Chicago, IL.

'sky warrior . . . ' installed (2006)

'sky warrior . . . ' front

peace

me and uteri . . .

these past weeks I have been struggling ~ for one of the first times that i can remember i didn't have that delicious and overwhelming desire to make art, nor did i have direction?? or vision; i had more of a dread.  and i missed my inner idea machine whirling in my soul, and i worried that i had lost "it" ~ (not a feeling i would wish on anyone)

knitted wire uterus

but then,  thanks to the wonders of the universe/serendipity, i have rediscovered that happy whirling dervish was back. and why?? most likely because of a number of factors, but I believe the main reason was a 'fat quarter' of fabric that i received in the mail, a 'fat quarter printed with uteri, which is part of the Exquisite Uterus project,  started by artists and educators Alison Gates and Helen Klebesadel.

What is the Exquisite Uterus Project?  It is a fabulous collection of fiber based artworks that have been created to give voice to shared outrage at ongoing attacks on access to good and affordable reproductive healthcare for all women.  Started in early 2012 in reaction to the what is still being called the most current ‘War on Women,’ two artists, known notorious Feminists, and sometime curators Helen Klebesadel and Alison Gates decided to facilitate a collaborative art project to channel their shared outrage at the attacks on women's ready access to quality general and reproductive health care of their choice.

womb wrap, 2009 - 2011

A fellow artist, the lovely Jeanne Williamson,  sent me the link to the call for artist's and before i could even think i ordered my quarter.  this also got me on the spoonflower website which is quite exciting in itsself - and i even created gift wrap with my dresstags and other products, always inspiring!!

Yet it was the arrival of the faric that seems to have jumpstarted my muses.  suddenly my brain is flooded with different images, techniques and methods with which to create my contribution to this project.  I vacillated between an angry uterus and an over the top beautiful uterus, in fact I could do an entire show with all the ides I have for this project! And I am proud and happy to say that my sweetie, Harriet,  may  also be contributing a uterus!!!

frida, 2010

You can view many of the beautiful and creative uteri that other artists from all over have already contributed on pinterest, here is the link to the boards.  And I will post my finished uterus soon!!!

But as i sketched and pondered how to fashion and construct my uterus I was struck by the realization that uteri have been an consistent element in my body of work for many years, and they still are.  the uterus is a symbol of the wonders of creation, of mystery and pain, and the uterus is a serious political minefield. No wonder I am so inspired and attracted to it! This is our core, our strength and i am proud to celebrate this organ and be part of this tremendous project!

Thank you Alison Gates and Helen Klebesadel.

peace

wire dress, 2008

diving in

Well I guess it is time to take the plunge and post my first post!!!

Also there is some news to post from the Dress Project front...my Wire Dress was accepted in the Concord Art Association's (http://www.concordart.org/) member's show, juried by Peter Alpers of Alpers Fine Art, Andover MA . The show will run from Jan.10th to Feb. 3rd.