Working Table: Tina's Series on Women

Dear Laura,

This drawing will become the fourth in a series of assemblage mixed media works I started last summer, two of which are on exhibition at the Foundry Art Centre starting February 20. Here is more information and images of the work below (one of which belongs to you - thanks for getting it to the show!).  I am really thrilled to be included in this exhibition inspired by the feminist artist Miriam Schapiro.

St. Louis Chapter Women’s Caucus for Art Contemporary Women Artists XVIIReimagining Femmagean international biennial exhibitjuried by Lisa Melandri, Executive Director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM)

February 20 – April 3, 2015 Juror's presentation:  Friday February 20, 5-6:00 pmReception: Friday February 20, 6-8:00 pm Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main Center, St. Charles MO 63301 On today's Working Table, I began drawing the woman in this photograph in the background. 

I have recently updated my website with this work.  This is what I have been thinking about....

This series on “Women” focuses on the photographes purchased at garage sales and antique shops.  Most of these are from the 1940’s and 50’s. I am not so much interested in the posed photo as I am with the women who didn’t know the camera was on them.  I am curious about their story, identity, and the culture around them that shaped who they could or couldn’t be. The assemblages are layered interpretations of these photographs.

While I was drawing today I watched the HBO documentary on Susan Sontag.  I was inspired to watch after reading THIS blog post on Brain Pickings.  This might be the only blog I read on a consistent basis.  Her writing is profound and relevant.  What I got out of the film was an admiration for a woman living truly who she wanted to be at a time of great identity shift for women in our country (1940-2000 had some incredible cultural change when seen lived through someone like Susan).

It's not easy to do this even today.  We all have pressures of committment and expectations that can sometimes tame the wild beast we want to be.This is not finished at all, but simply in the process of arranging, adding, and editing. I thought it would be interesting for you to read about my process when I talk a bit about it on the phone tonight with you.

Talk with you soon!