Not embattled, embraced

“Not Embattled, Embraced.” 2016. 

Paint on fabric with stiffener, stuffing, stitching, embroidery, handmade glass beads. 7.3″ x 3.5″ x 1.5″. 

Thoughts of women’s (reproductive) health book, “Our Bodies, Ourselves” and Barbara Krueger’s, “Your body is a battleground.” 

Text on back of figure (cape) says, “Our bodies are our own. Not embattled, embraced.” 

Perhaps contradictory are the beads strapped to her chest, which remind me of armor and also weaponry, as if she is about to battle. 

In a recent conversation with a friend, I described a 20 minute conversation I have with myself when getting dressed to run or go to work, to go out to meet friends: Is this hemline too short and will it attract too much (unwanted) attention? How many times will I want to tell a guy to put his eyes away or quit commenting? Is this outfit appropriate for school (being with students)? What message does it send? Will I feel comfortable in this? Will I feel safe?

Breaking the Glass Ceiling, new sculptures in the works

Hand painted, stitched, stiffened, stuffed fabric with hand made glass beads. 2016. Iviva Olenick

An old New York that you don't really see...

I am thrilled to have made major progress on these coordinated pieces. The embroidered painting and doll share the memories and stories of a native New Yorker (Queens born) who now lives in Brooklyn and has seen the borough go through many changes.

As I continue developing Native/Immigrant City, my embroidered study of assimilation versus acculturation in richly textured, socioeconomically challenging Brooklyn, I am excited to find stories like these from natives. I also want to thank the Greater NY Arts Development Fund of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs administered by BAC for partial sponsorship of this project.

Coming up in May, I will be sharing the techniques I use to make the above pieces at Brooklyn Workshop Gallery at 393 Hoyt Street in Brooklyn near 3rd Street (and not too far from Whole Foods). Martine Bisagni, Director of the Gallery, is kindly hosting a Sewing and Embroidery Studio on Thursday May 21 and 28 and June 4th from 1-9pm. I will be on site from 6-9pm on those dates, sharing my techniques and processes and teaching embroidery basics.

Art Opening HiJinks and He Stepped in a Pool of Red Paint

Brooklyn Family and how has it been so long?

Dearest blog readers,

It feels like I've been on staycay, as it's been so long since we've talked. Balancing multiple trajectories (teaching, making art, research, planning, curating, Bushwick Open Studio visits, gallery meetings, art openings, design projects) + the Brooklyn Half Marathon have left me aflutter.

But I'm back.

Here is a rendering of my Brooklyn "family" in 3D - my pregnant alter-ego, my imaginary dog sharing the story of the night we met, and Bedekah, the imaginary friend of my neighbor's daughter and of little girls all over Brooklyn.

If you've really, really missed me, you can find me this Sunday aka tomorrow, 6/8 at TAC's 5th birthday celebration at the Small Works invitational show on the second floor. I am showing two of my 3D figures. Plus, there will be collaborative art making/weaving, and preparation of a new sewing seeds garden.
505 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY.

You're my patch of grass...

More experiments with sculptural embroidery: "you're my patch of grass in an arid field." We've had so much precipitation this winter, it's hard to think of anything in New York being arid, but I think you know what I mean.

Chain stitch links us together

"we are links in the same chain"

Dyeing, repurposing and weaving with Weaving Hand Studio

Dyeing and drying the warp by hand with an iron. I actually hand painted the warp with watercolor wax pastels...

I also spent some time weaving, using cut-up, old t-shirts as "yarn" for the weft. 

Fun with 3 dimensions

So the fun of making jewelry and experimenting with 3 dimensions has led to more figurative experiments as well. Below is a piece in progress. I can't wait to continue and "finish" this "doll."

"Stitching Myself Together."
Watercolor, embroidery,
stitching, batting (fill)
appliqué. 2013. In progress.

Paint Stains...

Sometimes, a piece just isn't finished. I updated this over the course of 18 hours, starting last night and ending just a few moments ago...