From April 14th, to June 2nd, we present "Refuse/Re-seen" during which we'll focus on individual artists here on our blog. Today, we're pleased to introduce to you: Jo Stealey
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| Mantle 36 x 30" 2011 |
Gathered leaves, processed to become archival paper have played an integral role in this body of work. This material has been used for its perceived transience and simultaneously its strength as a metaphor for the natural cycles of life and evidence of its history. The material itself references the duality of an object that is ethereal and ephemeral on its face yet possesses the ability to endure and exist through multiple seasons or multiple generations encompassing a wealth of history - a history that can be well known as well as forgotten.
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| Heirloom 14" x 12" 2011 |
The objects themselves are loosely based on an apron, used to explore the meaning and role this object has played historically. These “aprons” address roles of sexuality as noted in Elizabeth Wayland Barber’s text Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years - Women, Society and Cloth in Early Times. Hunting and gathering societies often used aprons for seduction: I am using them as an ironic play on the role sexuality has in the American media today. They are to be worn on the backside to seduce rather than the front side to protect.
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| Seduction 9x12 2011 |
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