Month: November 2018

Books

I’ve been working on cutting, painting and wiring books together for the girls to stand on in the installation.  Every book that is cut in half hurts.  I was raised to respect words, language, the written word, and the great texts of the world.  I think about the loss of all this to these girls taken at the moment they were studying for exams and in the midst of deep concentration over their studies.  I want so much to return them to the time when they could study, read, laugh over funny passages and share stories.

Sharing stories is where the project is headed and will be the subject of my next post.   Here’s a picture from today in the studio.

Thank you!

Hello!  If you are looking at the Chibok Blog, you may have already seen the other  tabs on the Chibok website.  Those tabs describe the impetus of the project and hopeful outcomes.  This link will share daily stories of the work in the studio, drawings  and prints of the figures, and the efforts to get the work out.

Last week I participated in a printmaking workshop at MOMA led by Michael Kelly Williams in connection with the Charles White exhibition.  I made several drypoint intaglio prints there and can’t wait to make more.  I’ve also been working with Karin Bruckner at the Carter Burden Center using the same process.  Wonderful!

The kilns have been busy with the figures. Working with Olivia Beens at the Carter Burden Center I got the first 75 built.  Thank you, Olivia!

To date I have 111 girls made.  Each girl is numbered and drawn and a fabric turban is made for her head.  The clay body I have been using is a low fire brown. I want to give a shoutout to Sana Musasama who has supported this project with her heart and soul. Here’s a picture from this week.