In the Fall of 2019, my friend Merrilee and I took a class in Picassiette (the making of mosaics with broken dishes and other objects) at The Chicago Mosaic School. I did not have high expectations for my success. With Pamela Irving - a brilliant artist from Australia - as our instructor and inspiration, I found my voice in my art. I remembered my story. During my 25 years in the corporate world, I didn't feed my passion for folklore very often. I have now begun to nourish that part of me, hidden for so many years.
The piece I created in our Picassiette class is Wandjina, The Folklore Major. Wandjina are cloud and rain spirits from Australian Aboriginal mythology; Pamela said my structure reminded her of the Wandjina art she saw growing up; the mythology fits right in to my sense of creating art. Without thinking too much about it, I realized my Wandjina is influenced by several cultures - African, Mexican, Greek and Mideastern, American, French. I was returning to my passion and my story. Once my Wandjina was created, it unleashed a torrent of creative ideas and inspirations. So, I began my journey to identify the people who have influenced and inspired me, in my art and my life. Some of whom I haven't thought about in way too many years. These pieces I am calling My Muses, My Saints, My Trusted Advisors. They help me to create order out of chaos.
The piece I created in our Picassiette class is Wandjina, The Folklore Major. Wandjina are cloud and rain spirits from Australian Aboriginal mythology; Pamela said my structure reminded her of the Wandjina art she saw growing up; the mythology fits right in to my sense of creating art. Without thinking too much about it, I realized my Wandjina is influenced by several cultures - African, Mexican, Greek and Mideastern, American, French. I was returning to my passion and my story. Once my Wandjina was created, it unleashed a torrent of creative ideas and inspirations. So, I began my journey to identify the people who have influenced and inspired me, in my art and my life. Some of whom I haven't thought about in way too many years. These pieces I am calling My Muses, My Saints, My Trusted Advisors. They help me to create order out of chaos.
Wandjina, The Folklore Major
alone, supported,
strangers inspire. imbedded
in my soul and heart.
Thinset on board, glass eye, glass and ceramic tiles, doll part, found metal objects, milagros. 236"x23"x12". 2019
alone, supported,
strangers inspire. imbedded
in my soul and heart.
Thinset on board, glass eye, glass and ceramic tiles, doll part, found metal objects, milagros. 236"x23"x12". 2019
Zany, The Storyteller
the storyteller,
griot, the sage, all knowing,
I wish I knew her
Thinset on board, beads, ceramic, glass and metal pieces, silk yarn, tin jangles. 13"x25"x4". 2019
the storyteller,
griot, the sage, all knowing,
I wish I knew her
Thinset on board, beads, ceramic, glass and metal pieces, silk yarn, tin jangles. 13"x25"x4". 2019
L'Etranger, The One in My Dreams
she who would be queen
appeared in my dream, from where?
accompany me.
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, piccassiette, ceramic feathers. 15"x22". 2019
she who would be queen
appeared in my dream, from where?
accompany me.
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, piccassiette, ceramic feathers. 15"x22". 2019
Coyote, The Older Brother
always wished for one
a protector, confidant
the older brother
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, found objects, bicycle reflectors, zippers, beaded fringe. 15"x22". 2020
always wished for one
a protector, confidant
the older brother
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, found objects, bicycle reflectors, zippers, beaded fringe. 15"x22". 2020
Anne, The Sewing Teacher
brunette with backbone
poised, subtle support for me
followed rules, sometimes.
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, bobbins, spools, thimbles, zippers, buttons. 23"x27". 2020.
brunette with backbone
poised, subtle support for me
followed rules, sometimes.
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, bobbins, spools, thimbles, zippers, buttons. 23"x27". 2020.
Freckles, My Only Nickname
my only nickname, tagged by a friend long ago hidden in plain sight. Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, ceramic tile. 7"x8". 2020 |
Vincent
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces. 6"x9.5". 2020 |
Fo(u)r Eyes
glasses in tenth grade
now I see every leaf.
it's nice to see you.
trees have leaves, I said.
everyone already knows.
I annoy them all.
it's nice to see you,
it's nice to be seen, said she,
it's nice to be seen.
Thinset on board; copper, wood and leather leaves; glass, ceramic and metal pieces. 23"x24". 2020.
glasses in tenth grade
now I see every leaf.
it's nice to see you.
trees have leaves, I said.
everyone already knows.
I annoy them all.
it's nice to see you,
it's nice to be seen, said she,
it's nice to be seen.
Thinset on board; copper, wood and leather leaves; glass, ceramic and metal pieces. 23"x24". 2020.
Thinset on board, glass, metal, found wire, paint, picassiette, beads. 20"x29". June 2020.
|
VeVe, The Griotte VeVe Clark was my professor of African American Folklore at Berkeley. She passed away in 2007. I read a tribute to her, written by her colleagues. I have taken many of the phrases they used to describe her, and formed them into haiku. She was all of these things to me. She walked in the room, the room where it happen’d. The force of her presence. Always insisted upon the humanity of all she touched. A brilliant scholar, a teacher par excellence, passionate thinker. She walked in the room. The power of her honesty struck between the eyes. A master teacher. Ensured (her) students discover’d, honored, articulated their own voice. She brought utter joy to teaching. A master teacher. She walked in the room, woman of integrity. A VeVeism: Joined the ancestors. Not an end, a transition to high’r, safer ground. I didn’t thank you then. I thank you now. Please know your impact on me. |
Best Wishes to Lindsay and Tommy 2020
7"x10". 2020. |
Day of the Dead 2019
Thinset on board, copper, ceramic and metal pieces, beads. 4"x7" and 5"x9". 2019. |
happyhappyhappybirthday, ivxxvi 2020.
18"x9". 2020
18"x9". 2020
Ode To A Grapevine
Thinset on board, glass pieces, ceramic tile, found objects, grapevine, wire. 14"x30"x6". 2020.
Thinset on board, glass pieces, ceramic tile, found objects, grapevine, wire. 14"x30"x6". 2020.
It's Nice To Be Seen
Found metal base, thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, beads. 9"x9". 2020.
Found metal base, thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, beads. 9"x9". 2020.
Trial and (Lots of) Error
In my first mosaic class, my teacher wanted me to follow the rules for mosaics. She was unhappy with me when I added the circular object that went off the wood block; she actually told me I should not do that. I disobeyed - I like to color outside of the lines.
Wood blocks, smalti, glass, thinset, ceramic, found object. 5"x5" (left) and 4"x4" (right). 2019
In my first mosaic class, my teacher wanted me to follow the rules for mosaics. She was unhappy with me when I added the circular object that went off the wood block; she actually told me I should not do that. I disobeyed - I like to color outside of the lines.
Wood blocks, smalti, glass, thinset, ceramic, found object. 5"x5" (left) and 4"x4" (right). 2019
Bette’s Purse
She would never use
the word handbag. For she did
not grow up fancy.
Thinset on board, glass and ceramic pieces, jewelry. 20"x30". 2020
She would never use
the word handbag. For she did
not grow up fancy.
Thinset on board, glass and ceramic pieces, jewelry. 20"x30". 2020
