Many artists shroud their work in mystery. You never know what they’re doing or how they do it. Suddenly their art is just there. So feel free to follow my projects as I fumble through them. I know I’m going to learn something in the process, and maybe you will, too.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Current title: the girl and the sea
Status: in progress
Began: winter 2012

This is a project I will be completing as part of an artist residency at Trükimuuseum in Tartu, Estonia. I will be hand-carving linoleum plates using dry-point etching to print a book (story written by me, illustrations by Beryl Foo). I have tested a few etching/carving/printing techniques so far, and received all the illustrations. The next step is to get to the studio! The aim is to get everything done within a month or so and then have a small exhibition and workshop in Tartu.

Blog posts about this project: 1 2

Current title: whatever you say
Status: part 2 of 3
Began: spring 2012

This is a project that will take place in three stages: collection, writing/composing, and performance. I’m in the first stage, which will last until the end of May. In this stage I am collecting real examples of words that have been spoken in criticism of mothers/mothering skills (head over to the Submit page to participate!). Ultimately, this will be a group vocal performance piece, performed by 4-10 women (preferably mothers). I have a few ideas of how the piece will be composed (in terms of style and structure), but basically it will convey the cumulative effects of these words on mothers. It will take some time to complete this one, as all three phases are time-consuming, but it has been in my head and heart for almost two years already so I can continue to be patient.

Blog post about this project: 1
Facebook event page about this project: 1

Current title: and yet
Previous title: no more babies (you can see why I changed it)
Began: fall 2010
Status: seven photographs so far

This is a series of photographs of menstrual blood. Major ick factor, I know. But that’s part of the point. I want to challenge you to see a bit of the beauty of this essential life-giver, as well as think more deeply about the loss it both literally and symbolically represents. Yes, the uterus is shedding its lining and an egg, but sometimes this blood is a reminder of greater, farther-reaching loss. Loss that extends beyond a single month. Loss that comes from death (of a baby, child, or spouse), divorce, illness, high risk, aging, and so on. Invisible loss. Silent suffering. It cannot be fully grasped, which is why I am not trying to put this blood into a new context but rather take it and keep it out of any tangible/identifiable/obvious context.

PAST PROJECTS

Title: the unknowable
Date: 2012-2013

This started as a drawing on a large piece of cardboard, but when I finished the drawing it was clear the piece itself was not done. In the end, it was marker, pen, embroidery on cardboard, and the embroidery took a very long time to complete. I learned a lot in the process and will likely try embroidery again. And, yes, this is another Jonas-inspired piece. Text from ‘A Lover’s Discourse’ by Roland Barthes.

Title: fifty things
Date: 2012

This was an illustration project I completed along with 39 other artists. We illustrated the first fifty items from a list I have been writing since April 2011, and the final images were professionally printed on A5 paper. They were then boxed and given as a gift to a guy I love named Jonas. It was top-secret, so I could only post info here after the fact. The illustrations can be viewed on the fade theory facebook page or pinterest board.