This work spins off old Maidenform bra ads of the 40's, 50's and 60's which used the catchy pharse:"I dreamed I was ….in my Maidenform bra". The ad campaign was so successful and ubiquitous that merelly to say: "I dreamed" brought to mind Maidenform bras.
I play with the fact that the dreams of that era were boring, limited and in retrospect, funny. I have used this series as an opportunity to revisit that time with a modern sensibility and toy with fantasies that for me at least, are pretty far fetched.
Artist Bio
I have dual identiites in that I am both an artist and a Nurse Practitioner. I am sefl taught which allows me great freedom but doesn't prevent occasionally painful mistakes. Since there are no strict rules when one is self taught, I have the freedom to invent my own techniques, use of media and expressive opportunites. I also have a great love of recycling as many materials as I can including scraps I may find on my studio floor.
Since I don't do preliminary sketches, I never know what will emerge as I produce a piece. The mystery always holds me in suspense , I love the process of watching it unfold, witnessing what develops, the unexpected surprises and and occasional disappointmetns.
My work has a strong narrative quality, to a great extent because I am obsessed with people's stories.In my work as a healthcare provider and as an artist, I believe laughter is the best mediicne.
Artist Questionnaire
1. Briefly describe your process for making a representative piece from this show.
An idea will come to me somewhat randomly. If it makes me laugh, I'm motivated to capture that in the art. Although each figure is clad in a bra, the theme and title are the main focus.
2. What time of day do you work?
day and night
3. Where do you work?
in my studio
4. What materials/medium do you work with?
acrylic paint is the constant. I hate to shop so if I can find some material amonst my supplies I'll use it. This series incorporates such disparate things as: embrioidery thread, silk necktie remnants, seed packets, construction materials,toys, geometry problems, scraps and bits of this and that.
5. Where do you get your inspiration?
Everyday life, clouds, the work of other artists.
6. Briefly describe an interesting anecdote about your process or a picee in this show:
I guess the theme of the Maidenform bra series dates me. Anyone born after 1969 (when the ad campaign came to an end), has no idea of how huge a cultural phenomenum this was It was the longest running ad in advertising history.
