This is for the Mermaid piece and the first thing I needed to do was RESEARCH. The piece I've been asked to create is for a show about Mermen and Merwomen of Africa, and I knew nothing about them.
Mami Wata
I both printed off a lot of information from the internet and read a lot on the internet. Once I had an overview,I had to decide what I wanted to focus on. Mami Wata of West, Central and Southern Africa?
The Orisha Yemoja of the Yoruba tradition?
Her daugher, the "most beautiful woman in the world" or one of her sisters, each of whom have their own traditions and tales?
Or perhaps a nameless fresh water mermaid that lives in a desert in South Africa?
I'm working this time on lightweight canvas, which has been gessoed, dried for 24 hours and now has white acrylic paint on it which is currently curing.
I've made my decision and am doing preliminary sketching tomorrow night. I may even start to do some blocking on Tuesday. Let's see how far I get by Wednesday - see you then?
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May I ask how you personally deal with issues of cultural appropriation in this kind of research process? I haven't tried exploring it in my own quilting, but there's a big discussion in the poetry world where I also work over the use of myths and folklore when one is of/not of the cultural background of the particular myth to which one is alluding.
ReplyDeleteTaisia
http://piecinglight.wordpress.com/
I can't wait to see what you come up with!!!
ReplyDeleteOf course we want to see your process...and your progress! Sounds very interesting!
ReplyDeleteLove the wooden sculpture on top.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us in on your process from the start. I love to see how other artists work. Looking forward to watching the progress!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteOh I love this! Mami Wata or La Sirene ...it will be neat to see them in your work. Can't Wait!
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