SHH

I know this well, a heavy cloak, from the early age of 8 through adulthood. It has taken enormous effort to comply with remaining silent, keeping my voice down and, essentially, shutting up when, so often, I just wanted and needed to scream!

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SHH

So, given my previous 2 posts, it seems my "SHH" art series is relevant to both women and men. Perhaps the pink connotes feminine (although I've seen men wear pink and I love it) and the black oil crayon may be more masculine. Whatever, we are together in this time of great opportunity to courageously forge ahead, stand up and speak out.

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Elitism, Sexism and Patriarchy

To be clear, this antiquated, toxic system has been perpetuated by women as well as men. Females as professionals, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, etc., who diminish and thwart another female's advancement through words and actions have been and continue to be plentiful.

It is incumbent on women and men, to elevate to a greater level of consciousness and decency.

Be A Good Girl - Continued

Snippets of a 12/17/2015 article by Nneka Samuel: "As 2015 nears an end, “Hotline Bling,” one of the year’s most popular songs, continues to fill airwaves, and remnants of Ayesha Curry’s remarks regarding her preferred choice of clothing, as well as The Game’s statements on finding a “Queen” with a real career (not Instagram modeling), are still fresh in my mind.  So is the following question that they unknowingly posed: What does it mean to be a “good girl”?

It’s certainly not a new question or concept, for that matter, this whole “good girl” thing.  And it goes far beyond the beliefs of anxious children who want to convince Santa and their parents alike that they’re deserving of the Christmas gifts their little hearts desire.  Being a “good girl,” as we’ve come to understand over the years, means staying in your narrow, preconceived, separate but not equal lane.  Better yet, it means stuffing yourself into a one-size-fits-all box designed especially for your strict adherence to societal norms regarding femininity and womanhood."

In essence, inequality and diminished value, my definition of "Be A Good Girl", and the basis of my series/works of art beginning in 2010. This one depicts these words juxtaposed with "Unbridled" (uncontrolled; unconstrained).

Be A Good Girl

Yesterday, in an interview to Time, famous model Kate Upton stated: “I’m sick of being silenced and expected to sweep everything under the rug. I’m sick of being expected to laugh off these aggressive advances and accept the power imbalances that exist. I’m sick of being expected to endure all of this while being polite and professional through it all.”

She's right on, and bless yet another woman for standing up for her truth! What she says is all too familiar. For me, this is a syndrome of "Be A Good Girl" driven by an antiquated system of elitism, sexism and patriarchy, a system that will cease to exist as each of us continues to speak out and demand equality! 

Follow-up To 12/8/17 Oil Crayon Post

I initiated the divorce. It became a horrific multi-year process. I was unaware that revenge would be a prominent component; as such, I underestimated the power of it. The daily-spewed venom via motions and a hostile, unethical attorney was exhausting. Terrifying too, as the Court, a supposed upholder of justice, actually acted to sanction and perpetuate it.

The saving grace was discovering my artistic expression. This "Into The Fire" pen and acrylic ink piece aptly illustrates my process and angst. Although the subject connotes danger, to my eye, it is delicate and refined and in alignment with my quest for beauty and balance no matter what the situation is.