Construction.
Box 1 Londons Calling
Every year I fly to England to visit my family. I enjoy being there as I carry a deep connection to the history and place. To be back in the circle of my ‘over there’ family eating chocolate, laughing, and exploring museums and castles fills my heart with joy.
It takes about 12 hours in the sky to get there. Some flights are better than others.
I LOVE London! London has so much art and culture to offer. I get a shiver every time I see the River Thames depicted on any map as I know that river well.
I started drawing the city of London. It all starts with the river Thames. Then the bridges and main roads. At some point I just kinda started taking a bit of artist liberties. Lets just say I would probably get lost if I had to use this map. It took me longer to draw out this map than it does to actually fly to London from Comox!
All finished sitting as a backdrop at the back of the box.
I pulled it out of the box and gave my map a coating of beeswax and then glued it in place.
Now to add in some elements that I encounter on my journey.
First thing is I have to get there, and that will involve a long airplane ride, and cramped seats. I encountered some difficulty with trying to draw in the for-shortening and angle of the plane.
little red ink and some blue oil pastel for color.
After it was done, I glued it down onto a piece of foam board. When It is dry, I will cut it out with an exacto knife.
Red Phone Booths! The ones in London mostly smell like piss. With everyone having a cell phone, I think they are mostly used for latrines in the city.
I drew up a quick red booth and cut it out to get an idea of how it fits in my diorama.
I liked it, so I will draw up one on paper.
When done, I glued it down onto a piece of foam board. When It is dry, I will cut it out with an exacto knife.
My one sister lives down near Stonehenge. You have to drive by it to get from her place to Heathrow Airport. I took this photo May of Last year.
Drawing up some stones and giving them some color with oil pastels.
When both were done, I glued them down onto a piece of foam board. When they are dry, I will cut them out with an exacto knife.
I put them all inside the box to dry. I am happy with everything and seeing my vision come forth from inside my head to reality!
Cutting things out and figuring placement.
I am going to add all my loved ones names from over there into the box.
Love is in the smallest of detail.
I see new things every time I go. My body and mind are realigned. I see the ghosts and remember my past lives. When I time travel back to Vancouver Island, I am a renewed and invigorated person.
In life, Always MIND THE GAP!
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Box 2 Orion and the Ancestors
This box will have a depiction of the constellation Orion. I always knew I would have one male child. Orion is everything right about me. Plus, he is Starseed.
Using a drill, I made holes for the 8 distinctive stars I always see within the constellation.
I painted the inside of the box black. I then added some blue at the bottom, and some colors into the sky. White paint was flecked to resemble stars. I glued gold leaf around the outline of Orion.
Using a set of string lights, I glued bulbs into the holes. I added a piece of paper on the back to cover all the wires and tape.
I wanted to add in some whales into the box. [Fun Fact: Not a lot of people know that I am actually afraid of whales. ] Their symbology to me represents the deep Collective Unconscious, and a link to my Ancestors. They also can represent to me at times states of depression, or dream states. Somethings up if they are up in my life.
I measured out the size I wanted them to be in my sketchbook. With a pencil I sketched out the forms of the whales. Using a black sharpie marker, I outlined everything in black. I then filled in the color with dark and light blue felt pen.
I cut them out and glued them onto the foam board.
Using a blade, I cut them out from the foam core.
Twisted wire was inserted to act as the base for the whales.
Whales in their space.
I love that my father believed in aliens. He taught us that they put us here on the earth. My mom preached the God story. The alien ship/abduction features in many aspects of my art.
Here is an instance where it is on the back of my Upcycled Clothing tags
My father needs to be represented in this box. I folded some paper in half. Next I drew in pencil a spaceship and little man. When I was happy with what I had, I used a black sharpie pen to outline everything. I folded the paper back in half and held it up to the window. I traced the mirror image onto the back.
I used gold and silver felt pen to color in the ship.
I glued a piece of silver wire between the two images. I then used my blade to cut everything out after it had dried. I made a base for the wire to stand. I glued some tinsel to the bottom of the space ship. After everything was dry, I glued it to the top right hand corner of the box. I miss you Dad.
Head – Love is an Action
When you live with a person who backs their words of love up with actions, it provides a safe place to grow and flourish. I am so lucky i have that now in my life.
This head mirrors the other head, only it is full of sacred, healthy love. All the loving words and encouragement my loving husband Nick has provided me.
The process is exactly the same as the other head. Cut out the words and glue them onto the head. This time I have printed out the words instead of handwriting them. As I learned with project #2 it looks more polished.
It always takes more paper and longer to glue than I originally think.
Once everything was covered and dry, I used my oil pastels to add some color.
Here it is on it’s little plinth.
And here it is further digitized into somethingh else.
Critique went well. The Instructor mentioned she did not like the little name labels I had on my pieces and felt they shut the conversation down. I like all the little titles, but I hear what she is saying and pulled them all off.
Artist Statement
My work explores the relationship I had with my first husband, and to my second husband. How constant physical and mental abuse can tear a person down, and how positive love can build you back up. A series of old wooden boxes hold space for each personal story.
I have always had a Cathartic relationship with my art. As a child I used art as a way to escape, and later in life, as a means to express my emotions. This instillation is a representation of my lived experiences and speaks from the vulnerability of my being, and the love I have for my husband and son.
Each box guides the viewer on an introspective journey into their own relationships as well as providing a glimpse into my personal journey. I hope to remind everyone that “Love is an Action’ and everyone is deserving of healthy love.