Process

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Process

     I started out with the idea of gifting the world my art, one random package at a time.  I'd first played with this notion in a casual setting.  In cleaning out my home I found a number of small treasures--older pieces of my art that were collecting dust, several handmade valentines, record jackets, fake flowers and a couple of posters that had been lying around.  I myself had no use for them but I didn't have the heart or even the inclination to throw them away.   I got out the ribbon and several disposable boxes and set to work rearranging my treasures into gifts. 
     I found this to be quite a joyful experience.  I was suddenly able to soak in the bright pleasure of ribbon that had previously been taking up space.  I lovingly wrapped it, cut it, curled it, tied it.  It was as if I had gifted myself this experience.  Then I took these gifts out into the city to place them at random.  I thrilled at knowing that they had disappeared into the hands of strangers.
     The project I am creating as we speak is more intensive, but follows on the heels of that same joy I experienced earlier on. 
     Looking for fresh objects to work with, I visited one of my favorite thrift stores--Urban Renewals in Brighton.  There I happened upon two plastic bags filled with discarded wine corks.  I loved the size and chunkiness of the shape.  Each one had been pierced and stained with someone's customary wine.  One bag contained nearly fifty corks.  I began to paint them in bright, solid acrylic and dress them with fabric, adding crystals and fossilized shark teeth. 

They took on a mystical quality which, coupled with the primal energy of my rock and roll portraits felt wonderfully potent.  I would gift these to the world, but they would also become alters assembled in the city. 
    

To document my experience I needed to collaborate, so I asked both my boyfriend Alexander and my friend and fellow artist Helen Tisserand to join me on a walk through the city as I began to install my work.  Not only did they collectively take hundreds of excellent photos of the work as I installed it, but they were also able to capture my physical presence as an installation in its own right.  

Both Alexander and Helen have shown me dedication, freshness of perspective and enthusiasm for the work that's been an essential part of this project.