Glass Garments
“Under the Influence” was the theme for the call that prompted me to make this piece about what influences my art practice. 18 women artists names adorn this Artemis sculpture, between the inverted breasts featured along the bottom of the dress.
I wanted to honor women artists that have paved the way for me to become the artist that I am today. The names of early artists whose work I loved such as Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt. Modern and feminist artist such as Louise Bourgeois, Cindy Sherman, Barbar Kurger, and Judy Chicago. Artist mentor Constance DeJong who strongly encouraged me to create this body of work and the late Lydia Madrid’s names are here. My contemporary artist and dear friend whose work is in dialogue with my own—Stephanie Lerma. My own signature is written among the names. I hope to encourage and inspire young women artists to continue to create and break ground.
The key is from my own girlhood diary, which was full of a girls inspirations for her future.
Sterling Sliver wire is knotted back upon itself creating a filigree-like belt gathering the pearls.
Pearl’s are a semi-precious stone built up by multiple layers of shell material around an irritant. It is a symbol of perfection, long life, and fertility. Because a pearl is created within a mollusk shell, it represents hidden knowledge—which for me means trusting and listening to one’s intuition.
Photo by Margot Geist