Feminine | The Chapel

Time spent in the East Village, working with the folk from create!, was treasured time and so good for my soul. We tried to bring into our midst the energy of mothers and the feminine…welcoming memories of our mothers, the earth and, for me, Mary. It was such a beautiful two afternoons. I feel blessed to be with such creative people with so many powerful stories. I thank Wendy Lees for opening up this opportunity in my life.

The lesson involved a conversation about how artists use references in order to create, some more than others. We talked about using historical references and real life references. The act of painting landscapes on location is called plein air. I described the importance of asking for permission from photographers when using contemporary images as references.

All of this reminds me of a conversation that I once shared with Father Carroll. We always had such wonderful chats. He shared this Latin quote with me. So, while most art has roots in other art or reference points, it is important that the artist explore a personal interpretation or reaction to that reference point.

ars est celare artem
True art is to conceal art

This is evident in the following example, looking at a Frida Kahlo Self Portrait and compared to Bronwyn Schuster’s fabric sculpture.

Frida Kahlo. Self-Portrait (Dedicated to Leon Trotsky). 1937. Oil on masonite. 76.2 x 61 cm. National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C., USA.

Bronwyn Schuster Acquisition

Some people prefer to refer to angels as guiding spirits…for me, it doesn’t matter how you look at the theme. We have much to be grateful for, in considering the ‘maternal’ in our communities. Painting angels at the East Village was a joy.

Alanna shared that she added wings to the woman sitting before the table and that the angel was her mother. She remembered sharing a table with her own mother. It was a very powerful moment for me.