"Empty Bodies" 100 sculptures for the Installation

I will have a printed page for each one os the 100 sculptures, in French, Spanish and English, with a few lines telling about the garment, whose it is, and what it means for our questions on "coverring our bodies". 

Jupe brodée du LaosFalda bordada de Laos

Skirt worn by Hmong women in Laos  

Another cotton shawl and skirt worn by Hmong women in Laos, Jane's collection

Kangas are versatile cloths that can be wrapped around the waist or shoulders or on the head or used as a baby sling. Books have been written on the many uses of kangas. Jane accumulated quite a few while living in Kenya and Uganda in the 80's and 90's

Olga is traveling back to Colombia. She left me her cook's apron for the exhibition and for my cooking after, when I will miss her, I shall wear it and remember good times together here in Canada

 

Maria's friend Elisee Azarakhsh lent us this praying shawl, a shador. It just covers the head and the whole body for prayer. She also lent me two beautiful silk saris from India

 Another of Jane's pieces. This one is a cotton shawl from Ethiopia
My friend Jane Snider lived and worked in Laos and East Africa for several years with an NGO for development. Jane has a collection of beautiful shawls, skirts, prints, jackets... worn garments from women she worked with and shares them for the Installation. Here are some of them. and this is a Kanga from Kenya, also from Jane's collection.

Poster for Installation

one month to go

UFFFFFFFFFFFF
in less than a month the Installation will be open. Everything will be set up a month from today, Ferbruary 10th.. Decided. The Vernissage done, the exhibition open to the public... UFFF.
It is like giving birth in public.
Yesterday was a good day. Early in the morning a letter from Hanne saying they have reserved the two days for setting up and work with us.  How generous they have been, such friends Life has given us during the Installation work. Gracias, Hanne and Bruce.  

The second good news, yesterday I received a letter with small grant: exhibition assistance from the ONTARIO ARTS COUNCIL. Thanks, OAC!!! A good support to pay for the Gallery fee, materials to set up, big plastic crates to transport the work, metal hooks and wire to hang my sculptures and part of printing expenses, such as posters. I had asked for three times that sum, which I have already spent from my own pocket. But now $500 are welcome. 

Third good surprise. I have a lovely friend from Mexico who works at a photocopier. I was having some prints made to see how they would look on paper. When she saw the proof samples she was thrilled with the show and its meaning. How much will you earn from this work? she asked.  How much do you sell the sculptures for? if they are not for sale, then... Why do you do it?

-Yes, Karen, I do it, because I must. I have always been committed with women's education, life process, awakening, empowerment.  And the way I have done it is through Social Research and ART. If some of the visitors to the Gallery see my work and ask themselves questions, become aware of what is behind the way we cover our body, remember something they felt at my show when they see women's garments in the street, well  that is a good reason for doing my art work. She just stood there, staring at me. I cannot believe it....... it's so beautiful... she replied.

A fourth good thing that happend was my visit to the Colombian Consul,  Monica Beltran to bring Invitations for the Ambassador, for her and staff at the consulate, Victor Manuel and Maria Clara. I told the four of them about the exhibition. They all were interested, asking questions and I felt I did touch their hearts. It is something you feel, when you talk about the meaning of our work as artists. It gets there, in the core, or just drips off. This time it did. As soon as the invitations are done, I will bring them with a poster for the Embassy and Consulate. Monica offered me the wine for the Viernissage. What a beautiful gesture for I had not asked "oficially" for it. Gracias, Monica.

So what will the Vernissage be like? I still don't know. What to offer, how to do it, finger food, goodies... but a glass of wine will be there. Another item for the "to do list": Get wine glasses, napkins, etc. 

Then the last beautiful gesture was last night. I was very excited telling my son about the day and I heard Lysanne on the background saying: cheese, grapes, finger food, ham, chips. I will help you!...  I was touched. Thank you, Lysanne. Such spontaneous response.

So yesterday was a good day for the Installation. I overcame fears and felt love and understanding and support. Great.

Angels for the Labyrinth

20 Angels will Guard the Seed

  Muslim Angel

Angeles para el laberinto, Instalacion 2010

One month to go

I feel like a race horse in the last stretch....
There are still many things to do... 
UNAM CANADA, (before UNAM/ESECA)  in Gatineau, has given me another exhibition week at their gallery, Sala Felipe Gutiérrez. I felt so disappointed when they first said it would be for just one week, which would really be three and a half days (Monday the opening, does not count. Then Tuesday to Thursday full days 9am to 8pm and Friday until 3). I am so plesed and greatful. During the second week the Exhibition will be open also to the public with the same schedules, till Friday 19th of March.
On the 19th many years ago I met Ricardo. We have since then been together in health and in pain, in joy and in sorrow, in weeks and years with ups and downs. From March 19, 1961 till today, when we each day vow to be together again. Thanks, Saint Joseph, my grandmother´s patron saint... She is my patron saint.
I feel it is the largest work of art I have done so far. Slowly came to life, made itself more complex and left out some elements that are not essential for this Installation. Now I have a base for another one, through photography and the same theme, the way we cover or expose our body.

To do, to finish:

• 80 sculptures Ëmpty Bodies¨ . Check, revise, check the photo, finish packing each one of them. 
• 20 ceramic Angels who will guard the Labyrinth, the walk and the women represented in my Installation, both visitors and those who wore the shoes and garments.
• Revise the old worn shoes, pack them up. I feel I will need 250, I think I have them. Eliminate some running shoes... too many came for the walk in the Labyrinth. I made porcelain foot prints to mix with the worn shoes, remembering women that walk barefoot... everywhere...
• Finish the Power Point Presentation: one photo for each sculpture, with the theme, a small story about the garment and whose it is. Finish the translation, English and Spanish I have done. French my dear friend Diane is working on. Her mother tongue is French, it makes it flow better. Dear Bruce started the translation and worked half of it... thanks to both, dear friends and support.
• Finish the text in English, French and Spanish to be printed in a full page for the entrance of the Gallery
• Finish the seed. This is how it looks...
• Now I will add small thorns with the questions...
• Who am I?
• What am I doing here?
• What does all this have to do with me?
• Finish the Invitations, work I have been doing with Alejandro. Have them printed.
• Finish  the Posters and have them printed, to be placed in several places we have in mind. Restaurants, Community Centres, NVAC, U of Ottawa, Club House, my daughter María´s school, corner store...
• Buy supplies for setting up (ceiling hangers, nylon, tape)
• Decide on how much we can afford for the Vernissage. I asked the Clombian Embassy for support, buth there is no budget. It is elections year, all budget is political. No way. So it will be out of pocket. Will see. The Ontario Arts Council gave me a small amount to cover the Gallery's rental and one of their staff helping to set up and pack afterwards. Will see.
• Make the list of Invitations to be sent via email. Hope I don't forget anyone.
• Will se what else I forget now while writting, looking at the snow fallin outside my window. I thank Life for having had the courage and energy to do all this work. I do hope it touches someone's heart.