Venus Figures
I began referencing dancing women figures in 2002 as an undergraduate art student. A social group gathered on Fridays to celebrate their unique beauty, which was an unexpected discovery for me at the time. As I engaged them, I recognized myself as the “other” in the equation, which is rare for someone like me, and I remain grateful for lessons learned in a state of vulnerability.
Working from images that are highly curated by the subjects themselves to express pride and promote an ideal beauty, I immortalize these figures in durable stoneware that will survive for millennia. The work acknowledges artifacts created up to 40,000 years ago, illustrating this universal human interest as far back as we can see.
It’s precarious subject matter. Even when accompanied by my personal narrative it presents conceptual and rhetorical challenges. The series matures in conversation with women as I hear their stories & interpretations and learn about my roles in the subject while exploring form.
My Venus Figures shifted in emphasis as the Dobbs decision was announced. Previous iterations also celebrated women's power, but the ones since have stood defiantly. A fist and middle finger are aberrations from traditional depictions of Venus; an apt departure given the threat to women's power.
