What a time to be thinking about and creating art reflecting on Change of Mind.
In my history as an artist I have only created a few political pieces. There will be more in my future.
My brain has been on fire since the election so many powerful thoughts feelings and fears. Even though I can’t change the outcome or know the many ways life will change I can predict there will be change and some of it will be harmful. I do know my thinking needs to be much clearer than it is now. I need to be calm and focused to better understand the future and what others will need from me. Who? What? Why? When and How? It is very difficult for me to discern today, in this moment, where to begin.
So the first thing to change is my own mind : how it responds to the ever growing list of things to be concerned about, the dread I feel in my body, the spikes of fear when I read the news, sadness when I begin to hear of unkindness unfolding…already.
Proactive change of mind calls on me to increase my knowledge, to increase my involvement, to discern the best use of my time and resources both emotional and financial. It calls on me to keep my mind and body healthy and to be aware of accumulated stress and its potential damage. There is an anger within me that I need to better understand, not to eliminate it because it is valid but to reframe it so it can be fuel for forward movement.
First, I need to find the still voice within me, the grounded place that is more capable of reasoned thought, decision and action.
The art I am creating for this prompt will be a visual exploration of stillness.
Stillness to build on.
This one of my past political pieces.
Dentata
27 x 72 in
Artist Statement
What were you were wearing when you were raped? Did you fight back? Did you say no? How could this man have resisted that skirt, that low slung blouse? How were you culpable in the rape is the implication.
In 2005 inspired by a rape survivors statement “If only I had teeth down there” Dr Sonnet Ehlers invented the rapeX a female condom with teeth that painfully trap a man’s penis and can only be removed by a physician. This medical visit could help provide evidence for an arrest and prosecution. To date nothing has become of the rapeX condom. A Go Fund Me is well short of it’s $310,000 goal to begin production. Currently there are no women using this device. I can’t help but wonder what if vaginas had the option to wear teeth and could fight back? If instead of “What were you wearing?” a police offer said… ” I see you were wearing teeth when you were raped.”
This art is inspired by the rapeX condom…not a perfect solution but an idea with a bite.