A rose by any other name....

Gearing up for the holidays makes me ponder what life was like at different times in history. I often find my mind wandering to some of those classic stories that involve Christmas. I think of "A Christmas Carol" as many do, but oddly, my mind always wanders back to the holiday scene in "Little Women". There was a war going on, but despite a missing patriarch, life seems to have moved on like normal. It makes me reflect on how in many was, despite the fact that we are in what appears to be a never ending war in Iraq & Afghanistan, life here on the homefront seems to continue on, much as it ever has.
With that, I've written my description of the portrait series. Here it is for you all
-Meghan

Archetype: Women of War
A series of 5 Portraits-

1. Revolutionary War- Water Woman, 2010
cotton & synthetic fabric, poly fiber batting, thread
2. Civil War- Bandage Rollers, 2010
paper, cardboard & glue
3. World War I- Red Cross Nurse, 2010
cotton embroidery floss, canvas
4. World War II- Factory Worker, 2010
wool yarn
5. Current Iraq War- Soldier, 2010
rose petals on canvas

A series of 5 portraits showing working women of character during great wars in American history. A Woman's place in history has always been defined by what they were allowed to do; their skills were valued differently by the times in which they lived. Each portrait is created using a traditionally feminine craft technique: quilting, quilling, embroidery, knitting and pressed flowers. These skills and pastimes were appropriate for a girl of good upbringing, one who shows her obedience to family and country by doing what is proper. Her value to society was defined by how well she could behave in social situations, and how masterfully she could preform these feminine skills. By using these craft forms as the processes for creating the portraits of these women who stepped outside societal boundaries in times of crisis, women who wanted to give to their country and it's fighting men a helping hand, the artist hopes to highlight the fact that despite historical leanings, women have been contributing members of the war front since the beginning. This culminates in the final portrait of the female soldier in the current Iraqi war. This piece is made using pressed rose petals, which, depending on color have specific meanings and were a way for a man to show his feelings for a lady without speaking the words. Here, being paired with the strongest image of a woman's role in war, of being an equal to the men around her, here she is made from petals, she is truly as delicate as a flower, and as beautiful as a rose.

Through the Woods and Home Again

I had tea with the lovely miss Lindsay Gilmour this morning. She and I will be working together for the piece I'm making for the show. I've worked with her before and I just love the way we look things in such different ways. As a dancer, she's so in her body and tells you her story through movement. I'm always in my head and I suppose I tell my story through stitches. We spoke about narratives - the stories we tell about ourselves and the stories culture tells. Her husband is a death penalty lawyer writing about the importance of telling the story of the person you're defending - what is their narrative and how did that lead them to where they are? She also recalled something from The Power of Myth about how each culture has it's own story that members try and live up to. We wondered about our culture's story. How much of it had been taken over by Hollywood. "Love" defined by the latest Romantic Comedy and not by the wise. Between Hollywood and death row, what are the archetypes we're creating I wondered.

I've been reading From The Beast to the Blond a non-fiction book about story tellers and fairy tales. The archetype of woman as story teller goes back almost to the beginning. Fluctuating between wise woman to the "old wives tales" she tells us what we need to know in order to make it through the woods. She's full of gossip and wisdom. She's an oracle and a whore. She's trouble.

With Lindsay, I would like to explore this storyteller in other cultures, mainly Tibitian and Indian. I would like to see how they carry the burden of memory - the history of the culture embedded within the story - before there were ways of recording it. How are we still burdened by our culture? How can the past story tellers give us what we need to know about our own time. There is more to it then happily ever after. Even they knew that.

Don't Forget This Guy!

denver blog

archetype: crazy cat lady
this polytych is IN PROGRESS!
4 canvases measuring a total of 48x48 inches
mixed media (collage and acrylic paint)

Dear One Stone Collective,
I am very happy to participate in this collective. I do hope one day to see you all in person! I does not look like I will be able to come to PA in the spring, but my art will be there. And it will be finished, unlike the example I am posting.

I chose this archetype because I live it everyday. I have a beyond normal affinity for cats. I could give you the grisly details of my cat infatuation/love, but most likely I would write much more than anyone would care to read.

My paintings contain many personal mementos as collage material, propelling this art from a mere representation of an archetype into a meaningful self portrait. Meaningful to me...hopefully engaging to viewers.

Meow!
Love,
Timi

Woven

So, I have spent this quiet afternoon at my desk watching the sun move across the pale Brooklyn sky and contemplating my installation for the upcoming show. I'm reposting the description I wrote for our press release. There is still some editing and figuring, but I think I'm getting close...

Corey R. Breneisen
The Matriarch
"Woven"
Rubber bands

Using the Native American concept of Grandmother Spider as a jumping off point, Woven, explores the archetype of the matriarch. The keeper of family ceremonies, rituals and stories, the matriarch is both revered and reviled. Her piece addresses the concept of the loss of family connections, traditions and rituals when the matriarch passes. The use of rubber bands emphasizes the fragility of familial relationships as well as the lengths to which the matriarch is stretched in her role as head of family. In a performance to take place ______, the artist will be adding to the installation by weaving new sections of rubber bands. Through the repetitive action of weaving materials together, the artist invokes the establishment of family rituals and routines.

Strength, Warmth, Energy, Energy, Energy

So here you go, these are some of the objects that a weaving there way into my life and this piece. They have become inspiration for color and my motherly archetypes symbolism. I will just show some images now and get into details later.

Adjustments

With the changing weather comes many new life changes...I know I'm not the only Collective member starting a new chapter and in that I find comfort...that we can rely on each other to support us through these changing tides. After 4 years of part time freelance work, I have now returned to the 9-5 grind. It has been difficult to get used to the new routine, but I am grateful for this new opportunity. I am still trying to work in a studio practice but I'm confident that it will come with time. Tomorrow is our big trip to Bethlehem to visit the proposed storefront which I'm very excited about. Until soon...peace and wellnes...

denver blog

I shall now torment you with kittens. I am preparing for my "crazy cat lady" archetype themed mixed media artwork.

Sketches and Reference

So I just sent these off as my "sketches" to Heather. Mostly it's the reference material I've gathered to start creating my layouts for the portraits. I'm not sure If I want to work them in cronological order, or just start in on all of them at once so I have various things to work on. We shall see. As it stands right now, I need to see where to get pressed flowers or such for the Iraq portrait, since the local flower season as passed, and we're now into fall. Plus, I don't think I want to press the flowers myself, but it may end of costing way too much to buy pre-pressed ones, especially with the scale I'm planning to do for the portraits.
Happy Fall All!,
Meghan

Revolutionary War


Civil War


WWI


WWII


Iraq War

Lost in Mythology

So, I am still not fixed on my idea for our them archetype. I have just been swept up in research. Mother, of course, speaks to me but from there I have been all over the place. I think I have chosen a window but am very hesitant to make claim to it without knowing what the hell I am doing. Aaaaaahhhhhh!

Strong Women of Wars

So I've had one of those epiphany moments that wakens you in the night and forces you to write it down. Well, except for the fact that it was an early evening nap, and not at night that I was awoken, but you get the picture.
I want to make 5 pieces for our next show. Each of them will be made using a "traditionally feminine" craft technique: pressed flowers, knitting, quilting, embroidery & quilling. I want these pieces to be portraits of womens' roles during wars and the way they've been "allowed" to change over time. I want to do: The Revolutionary War Water Pitcher Ladies, The Civil War Bandage Rollers, World War I Red Cross Nurses, World War II Factory Workers & The current Iraq War Soldiers.
My plan is to use each of the techniques to make one of the portraits, so right now I am at the point when I searching for good reference images for each of the portraits I'd like to do, as well as searching out the materials I will need and the style for each technique.
I'm really looking forward to our next meeting, in a few weeks, but especially due to the fact that we are planning on visiting the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck. I've been wanting to go for years, and couldn't think of a better group to go with. And right about now, it's all you guys you are so supportive, that is making all this job and house stuff easier, Thanks!
-Meghan

We've come to fish the herring fish that live in this beautiful sea

My studio mate made an interesting comment the other day about the piece I'm currently working on. She said that it reminded her of fishnet stockings. Hmmm...I said to myself...so very true. It looks very much like a fishing net rather than a spiderweb. My head filled with images of older women attempting to make themselves look younger by wearing younger style clothing often out dated, too tight or otherwise unflattering. I also started to think about the old addage, "There are always more (better, richer, wiser, younger) fish in the sea." My mind is reeling with ideas for how this piece can fit into our upcoming show. I've done my best to take a few pictures but it is a difficult piece to try to document and capture with my little camera. The shadow cast will be just as important an element as the physical materials. I'm hoping to exploit the stretchy nature of the rubber bands and display it in some very dynamic ways. It is all very exciting. I'm hoping the Collective can come for a studio visit to get the full impact of the piece. Until soon...

Musings in the Autumn Sunshine

As I sat drinking coffee in the late autumn sun today, I had a lot of time to reflect on the various new opportunities that are before us as a collective. I'm excited about this new journey and the many people who are supporting our efforts. Although we have yet to decide a specific topic for our next show, I am intriqued with this idea of evolving archetypes. I am particularly interested in exploring the archetypes of Matriarch or Healer/Shaman. I have been rereading my books on feminist theory and Native American studies and have found the recurring theme of 'Thought Woman' or Grandmother Spider...spinner of the people's histories and ceremonies fascinating. I've also been talking with family members and friends who have some revealing information about what happens to family connections when the matriarch is gone. Many have told me that the family literally becomes unraveled. In thinking about these ideas, I've begun to weave a web or net in my studio. It has become mediative and calming to work on. And as I work, I think about my own ceremonies/rituals/traditions and the roles the women in my family have played in keeping them alive.

The second archetype that interests me is the idea of the woman as Healer. I find it interesting that within the family unit, the woman takes on the role of healing/caring for the sick family members but the practice of medicine as a profession is still predominantly male. I'm also curious to explore women's inclination towards wholistic and "natural" healing treatments. I have a number of ideas for sculptures that would explore this theme, but nothing too tangible yet.

Apart from reading, I've also been looking for art images that speak to these ideas as well as critical art writings. Some of my favorite images are by collage artist Romare Bearden in which he evokes the idea of "Conjure Woman". Conjure Woman is a African American concept of Woman Shaman that was prevalent in Southern culture. I've attached some images of his work above.

I'm hoping to have some images of my work posted soon. Until then...peace and wellness...

Thinking in Circles

I just returned to the Grail this past Saturday to visit the show with my family. Despite the wet weather this summer, the work is holding up well. (En)Compass looks like it has been visited by many a wild critter and perhaps slept in or rolled upon, shuffled through and certainly walked around. There is a nice trampled path around the piece...I imagine the wild woman of the woods coming to visit for a game of ring around the rosey. I certainly played it with my son and parents on our visit. This piece, the visit with my family and our new theme has me thinking of cycles...life cycles in particular and the cyclical nature of well, Nature in general. Maybe it's my summer of stay-at-home-mom-dom sneaking in as well. It's generally assumed that women want to be mother's and reproduce...create a lineage and legacy. I have to admit that this wasn't a particular goal of mine before having a child, and I often scoffed at those who pressured themselves to produce "heirs" by a certain age. As a mother, I now understand (a little better) where these women were coming from. There is something incredibly beautiful (not to mention) powerful about being able to create life. It does link a woman to something deeper...primordial...ancient...No wonder we were worshipped once upon a time! Yes, Gaia, Demeter, Athena, Changing Woman, Grandmother Spider...she is in us.

I have been rereading two books "Women Who Run with the Wolves" and "Ceremony" to reconnect with the wild woman archetype. I haven't had much studio time in this "Summer of Cy" but I'm looking forward to exploring this new theme.

Meghan's Research...

... or lack there of.
Okay, so I admit it, I haven't spent a lot of time researching the Stillman's or archetypes the last few weeks. I took a look at the painting of the sisters at The Brooklyn Museum


Other than that I've been doing some mental research. I've been thinking about dichotomy's and 2 halves to a whole and those sort of thoughts that were all inspired by the sisters painting, and by knowing the one sister went on to be Thayers' model of an angel in his later work. So I've been thinking about good and evil, heaven and hell, left and right.

But I am looking forward to finding out more about the sisters. I can't wait for our historical society trip!
But one thing I haven't been able to find: what were the sisters names? I'm guessing one was Bessie G. Stillman, but that is only speculation.

So, I don't have much to report right now.  I just returned for teaching art summer camp in Pennsylvania.  That was a great experience and I hope to develop something career-wise from it BUT I can't wait to get started on our new project.

 ARCHETYPES based on STILLMAN SISTERS 

I must admit I have not done any research or had the chance to read any of the other member's research but I can say, the Stillman Sisters at one time owned the estate the Grail at Cornwall-on-Hudson is now located.  They have been refer to as "spinsters" yet seem to be very inspiring women.  Who were very involved in the arts.  Just my kind of ladies!

I would also like to report I spoke to my sister, Heather Sincavage-another one of our members, and she is working very hard to include us, One Stone Collective, in the women's identity events she is working on in conjunction with Lehigh University.  All of her programming will be going on during Women's History month, April, in Bethlehem, PA.  Heather was looking for a possible venue for us to be able to show our new works for that month.  That means, if this happens, we need to get our works together by the 3rd week of March so we can get into all the publicity and set up our works and hopefully put together a formal show brochure.  All of this is still pending and Heather is waiting to see if a budget is approved.  Once the school year begins we should know more on this front...

One more thing, Heather missed our last meeting because she was at an incredible women's funeral, Bernadette Cozat.  Heather had worked with Bernadette and 21 other women to create a piece/grant regarding their identities.  While meeting with this particular women, she had mentioned opening a lecture for a women's group in NYC kinda like this:

 "If you cannot look within the mirror and see Isis, Gaia, Athena or any goddess then it is time to find her.  It is not until YOU see your divinity that other people can recognize it."

Peace.

Our First

We did it!  Our first show is now officially under our belts.  Thank goodness for family and friends who helped us work late into the night and woke up early the day of the show so that everything was done (mostly) in time.  The show is up until the end of August so if you're in the neighborhood stop on by.  Here's a peek at what you'll see:

FIRST YOU'LL WANDER IN THE WOODS

There you may come upon, Merissa's piece "Burning Bridges" under an archway.  

Corey's Piece "(En)compass will emerge behind the stone wall, in the area that used to be a carriage house.

Felted circles - sails in the distance beckon.

Meghan's piece "Reminiscence of a Journey" winds it's way through the woods.

Marcie's piece "And it Lead her Straight to the Heart of Boo's Tree" 

is waiting for you to peak inside.

Marcie's piece "And When He Fell in Love with the Sea, She Sewed for Him Sails of Indigo" catches wind but can never set sail.

AND WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF INSIDE A GARDEN SHED GALLERY

Katrina's piece, "The Red Sweater" sits on a shelf, patiently waiting for you.

Massie's piece, "Moral Compass" stands sentinel.

Timi and Carolyn's piece, asks you to stay awhile and read a little story.

And Meghan's piece, sums it all up.  

Pick your compass - it's how you begin.

With love, from a group of "wanna be and sometimes just about making it" superheros.

The One Stone Collective at The Grail.

So here is a little photo introduction to COMPASS, and to the Grail property generally. This weekend Corey, Merissa, and Meghan came up and installed their pieces, and over the next week the rest of the pieces will go up--draped in the trees, installed in the old garden shed. Already it's a magical experience, walking these grounds. Take a look!

Compass: Viewing Hours

Our First Show, Compass will be on view at The Grail from Saturday June 27th through Saturday August 29th.

Opening Reception:
Saturday June 27th Noon to 6pm
Join us for Live Music From the NYC Go Girls sponsored by Imperial Guitar & Soundworks
Bring a Picnic, water will be for sale.

Regular show hours are from 11-6 daily for the duration

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn Turgeon

The One Stone Collective at the Grail in Cornwall-on-Hudson Announces Its Inaugural Art Show:

COMPASS,

Opening July 27, 2009

12 - 6pm at the Grail in Cornwall-on-Hudson

The One Stone Collective is made up of nine women artists from around the country working in various media. For their first show, they’ve collaborated to create fine art pieces around “compass,” an intentionally broad theme that has inspired work as disparate as enormous denim sails covered with ancient mariner imagery, industrial felt strips looped to create a series of spirals that “scribe a compass,” an oversized knotted net inspired by traditional red map lines, a Byzantine-style self-portrait on lacquered silk, a mechanized gyroscope attached to a Greek-style bust, a written fairytale about a girl with “a compass for a heart,” and a papier-mache and ceramic-shard winged sculpture inspired by this story.

Sponsored by the Grail, an international organization with a long history of providing spaces for women to create art, and held at the Grail in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York (located at 119 Duncan Avenue), the show is site-specific. The Grail at Cornwall is situated on 45 pristine acres in the Hudson River Valley. Nets will be draped through honey locust trees in the woods, artwork will swing in the archway of early 1800s ruins, sails will hang in one of the meadows on the property, sculptures will be displayed in outdoor garden shed, and small pieces will jut from holes in the oak trees along the path that leads to the ruins. The June 27 opening will feature live music provided by GO GIRLS NYC and sponsored by Imperial Guitar & Soundworks of Newburgh, a reading by Collective member Carolyn Turgeon, a raffle and prizes, and other activities. The exhibit will remain up until mid August.

So Much Depends: A Little Peep-in-Progress

***

Hello, all! I'm so excited by all the activity: The shed renovations, the photos of work-in-progress, the general buzz increasing as the exhibition date draws near. So exciting! I wanted to share a little work-in-progress from my studio in California as I can't be at the meetings, in person. I also just wanted to share a general "Woot, woot" of excitement as this meshing of marvelous things all come together in this show and community; a women's art collective of multidisciplinary artists with a first show in a communal art space (and updated barn/ shed) in the beauty of the Hudson River. I mean really, how incredibly meaningful and just darn lovely.

I am wrestling it out with Photoshop and it's quite an even fight but I think that ultimately, I might just win! Designing, redesigning, configuring, reconfiguring I finally have all the backgrounds done and the layout re-reconfigured. Above is a snidbit of the first page of my handmade book, though now I'm going to print the photograph separate from the red sweater background, then sew the two together with thread. The other 8 pages will look similar, though different images, different lines of the poem, different latitude/ longitude locations, and then all the pages bound together into one cohesive book. Perhaps some deer image-transfers on the back pages. (Little collage deer heads will also be tucked into the edges of the foreground photo.) Phew! Just wanted to share.

xoxo,
k.

Treasure From Boo and Turning Blue

An old man sat in a chair in the Pennsylvania afternoon sun watching over a table strewn with miscellanea. My favorite kind of junk. When I was finished my hands were filled with pocket watches, gears, a compass, a pocket knife, dice - bits and pieces from an imagined childhood. All circles. All gifts from Boo Radley. A childhood compass from one of my favorite books. A perfect tree hole in the woods (a tree more hole then trunk) begged me to use it and so I am gathering and creating a small second piece for the show. The process takes me back to days when my own pockets were filled with the treasure of a neighborhood bike ride. Doesn't it make you wonder just who's pocket this was in? Or what lock (still on a door in some Pennsylvania farm house?) the keys opened?

Secondly, sails are taking shape in the Grey House basement. I began my Indigo dye bath about two weeks ago (a learning process in itself) and here's the first test run. I love this blue. I had imagined something much darker but this is a pleasant surprise. More like sky. I still have a lot more jeans to cut and dye, a bit of a mountain actually, but I am looking forward to beginning to sew them and seeing the form take shape.

This was my initial sketch of the sail but I think I may be changing the design. I may be making the front sails (the one's that look like triangles) rather then the main sail. Partly because the amount of jeans I have been able to collect means I have limited material to work with so I think two smaller sails will look better on the lawn then one large sail on a mast. But we'll see. I designed this one with water, earth and sky in mind (the middle section represented the 24 time zones.) I will still probably incorporate that in some way but a little more in the abstract. Oh, dear. Not much time to figure it all out is there?