In this season of gratitude, one of the things I am most thankful for are the women in my life who have offered me their practical wisdom. This has been true at every stage of my life, but especially as an artist, as a teacher, as a mother, and as a person getting older. I gave a Zoom talk for the Indiana Women’s Caucus for Art this month, and shared how much I have valued being part of a community of women artists that has offered support, encouragement, advice and friendship. The work I am doing now is not the work of a younger artist; instead, it is work informed, shaped and influenced by my lifetime of experiences.
Wisdom Cloak: The Oracle
This Wisdom Cloak is called The Oracle. Some of the Wisdom Cloaks draw on references from the ancient world. An oracle is someone, often a woman, with insight and great wisdom; called upon for advice and prophesy. A person telling uncomfortable truths.
This piece is made from wool and found charms and amulets. The center is constructed from a felted wool experiment from many years ago, thrown in an acid dye pot and reused in a new context. I just finished the hanging sleeves and photography for this piece. The shapes and lines made by the appliqued and couched felt pieces reminded me of language—maybe wise words coming out of the mouth of a cave.
So, to all the women who have given me good advice and wise counsel—thank you.
Reading List:
More good books: Oh William, by Elizabeth Strout; Pslam for the Wild Built, by Becky Chambers; Burntcoat, by Sara Hall; Velvet was the Night, by Silvia Moreno Garcia; and Shiner, by Amy Jo Burns.
Wisdom Cloak: The Oracle (detail)
Wool, found objects