The Phoenix Project San Francisco - Art for a just cause.
September 2008 Archives
I was asked by my friend S: Congratulations on the extended run. I hope you're selling lots of genitalia. Does that make you a pimp though??
No, pimps only rent it.
... must say the comeback was from my most retort-worthy friend, GZ.
Left up to me, I'd go off on this diatribe of my huge wish/hope/desire/longing that I lived in a world where every single person would have full control over their own and to never rent it, never be in a life situation where renting it is better than the alternative, where any activity would be consentual completely through and through. and through. forever. and ever and ever.
But S, you meant the question lightly. So I'll stick with GZ's witty response.
... and yes, all the letters are my friends ;)
When Doilies Go Bad has been extended one week, to close on October 4th.
Come by and be surrounded by Seussy doilies!
I'll be there at these times:
Saturday Sept 27 3-6
Friday Oct 3 4-6
Saturday Oct 4 3-6
Gallery is also open weekly Monday - Thursday 10-2
In San Francisco at the SOAP Gallery near Mission and Cesar Chavez.
I just learned from the guys at Women Be Trippin that I make household genitalia. They describe my doilies in the cadence of our beloved Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham.
You know, of all the thoughts I've had while making my ... my objects, I've never had either of these two. But that's exactly what I'm doing!
Thanks, guys! You made my day!
people often ask me, why do I do what I do. there are 5,283 reasons, one of which is:
what do all the other dots stand for?
A good friend just referred to me as the Betsy Ross of genitalia. I thought that was too funny to keep to myself. Thanks, Will Davis!
With his permission, I posted his full name. I promise you I don't reveal any of my sources without their permission so feel free to contact me. I know how weird this world can be with this subject matter. Ooh, you said genitalia! nya nya. it's not worth some of those fights. but let's have the conversation somehow anyway, yeah?
As I was gallery sitting today, a 5 year old boy and his mother walked in. She began looking at the doilies on the wall. He held his black and red plastic robot and wandered around the space. "There's nothing in here," he said. Perfect, I thought.
Thank you, Alan Bamberger, for your coverage in artbusiness.com of When Doilies Go Bad. You summed up my feelings behind making these things very well, better than I normally do, and I'm glad you enjoyed them!Here's a teaser doily for Lisa's new works involving her favorite song lyrics in text message form embroidered on used doilies. Check out a whole bunch more at Benders Bar.
Something about squeeze me and juice running somewhere
Large erect silk phallic prayer flags hang above the entryway to the pool table.
Bright silk doily spirals hang on the back wall.
While viewing the Golden Tampon Award:
He1: Can you imagine having to use those things?
He2: Yeah man, do we have it easy.
~
Studying for the final
In order to exit this reception, each viewer had to answer 2 out of 3 questions correctly. Do you know the answers?
1. Is ejaculate gross or is it art?
2. What really actually constitutes the vulva, the whole vulva, and nothing but the vulva?
3. Was Jesus actually endowed?
~
Gee, there are genitalia swaying in the breezes everywhere here and these two are talking so seriously. About What?! Oh, that's me with my roommate discussing whose turn it is to take the garbage out.
~
Cheshire dogs
~
If his dick were at slightly more of an angle ...
~
Men-To the wall and read. NOW! Women-Circle in the middle and talk!
~
One young woman came up to me near the end of my opening reception and in a quiet gentle voice told me she enjoyed my work. I thanked her and shook her hand and asked her her name. She said, again quietly and simply, Emily, but I got the feeling that she didn't really want to tell me (so the name I'm using here is not the name she told me). I asked her what she enjoyed about it or why she enjoyed it and she gently referred to growing up with doilies and ... I think she rolled her eyes ever so slightly or shook her head a little. I read that to say that these gave her some relief.
As I related this story to a friend of mine, my friend responded, Emily is probably re-examining a lot of choices and possibilities as we speak.
Let us all.
The day before my show opened, I participated in a collaboration / brainstorming event. I was paired with a Filipino woman and we were to talk for a few minutes about what was alive for us. Having just come from putting the finishing touches on my show, I told her about "my first solo art show. It's about addressing secrets, taboos we hold emotionally in our bodies that contort us when we can't be honest about them and let them out."
She: Is it paintings, photography?
Me: Wellll, I do it through provocative doilies.
She: Oh? Tell me the worst doily you've made.
I considered the gorgeous onyx and gold cross around her neck.
Me: Really?
She: Yes, tell me the worst one, the worst message.
Me: O ... kay ... well, I made a cock that's big enough to go over the back of a chair ...
I demonstrated with my hands flowing over the back of my chair. She was already laughing. Encouraged, I added the next detail about the spray and she was doubled over in her chair with more laughter.
Me: I'm curious exactly what part is funny for you.
She: You don't look like someone who would do that!!
Me: Well, I was considering the cross you were wearing and wasn't sure it would be a good thing to share this.
We laughed many more times that afternoon as we passed each other to join different groups.
It is not lost on me that I was having my own stereotypically-tending brain blown just like she was. How pleasant.
Humorous, provocative, gorgeous - your work is so fresh & fun! Looks great in this venue - Congratulations! PS, I hear people giggling all around me.
Thank you for this more full experience of your work, your play, your vision and your wisdom. Next I look forward to your linen show (nudge, nudge).
Just what the hell could I write? Perfect -
The perfect intersection of beauty, poetry, skill, and message ... with a cherry and a sparkler on top. Anything that makes me think is always memorable and welcome. Thank you!!
Since I judge the art opening based on how hard I get, I can say with confidence that yours, Laura, was a very large success. Another happy ending.
From my roommate:
Great job on the show. It was totally worth having penises & vulvas around the apartment the past few months. I look forward to more genitalia gracing the confines of our pad.
Months before my show opening, I knew I would include the Active Antimacassar. For proper viewing, I would need an antimacassar-inviting chair. I began my search, asking friends, checking craigslist, furniture stores for an inexpensive, good condition, overstuffed or la-z-boy style chair. Many leads but nothing turned up.
My friend Gary offered his gorgeous oxblood recliner. Oh my, the white balls would look so good against that color. And it was in great condition. But no, I couldn't borrow my friend's chair. What if something happened to it? Could I actually replace it? I kept looking.
A week later, Gary offered his chair again. I'd continued following up on many kind chair leads but none were panning out. Gary, I can't borrow your chair, I said. What if I rip it while transporting it? Or somehow it's damaged at the show? I might not be able to get you another one in that gorgeous color.
Well, when you become famous, then the chair will be famous, and I will be famous.
Ok, I'll borrow your chair. Thank you, Gary.
As these links covered my show, I got introduced to their websites - what a great collection of coverage and events! If you're ever looking for something out of the ordinary, check these out!
Laughing Squid
CraigsList
SF Weekly
SFStation
SF Bay Guardian
SFist
SF FunCheap
The Week Intro
Examiner
Eventful
fecal face
livinintheloin
7x7 SF
outside in
Mission Mission
google's cache of World News Network, California Observer, shows that the show When Doilies Go Bad was listed under politics and health.
7x7 calls my work "distinctive".
MissionMission enjoyed both the crochet show at SOAP and the embroidery show at Benders. They're also garnering some comments that go back and forth, as this art tends to do.
I really like this blog - very open, considerate, and community minded. I've never lived in San Francisco but LOVE visiting it pretty much anywhere. I've learned my way around the Mission because of the art galleries I've shown work at. There is So Much Good Stuff Here!!! I was just at a gathering last night after gallery sitting for my show at SOAP. The Million Fishes Artist Collective hosted the dorkbots group. The speakers were Very Interesting and the group was such an eclectic collection of curious scientists, engineers, artists, creative people!
I LOVE the Mission!
sf.funcheap.com calls it A Naughty and Inappropriate Art Show.
I'm not trying to cause grandmas heart palpitations over at examiner.com or sfist.com.
I'm more driven by fear of NOT talking about what seems real for me/us. Some are driven by fear of that very conversation. Oh well.
I did not grow up as an artist although some people would disagree with me. I was forced at some point to create these things to speak about issues that had been buried for too long with me. They just so happen to have a venue in the art world, for which I am terribly thankful.
I have thrilled at the chance to wake up and see the strength of message when combined with a particular medium. Wow, the things we can say!
Janine Kahn calls my red fuck heart doily Classic Mappin. In so many ways, she is so right but I hadn't seen it that way till now.
I do want to be strong as the person I am but I don't want to take your head off in the process. I wish that for all of us. A pretty pink crocheted piece that has some expletive on it sounds like a fine expression of that to me!
If I can tell someone about my fuck doily, I never have to have business cards on me because they will always remember and can always reach me through fuckdoily.com. I know many people try to be this memorable to those they meet. I wasn't shooting for this but it's a fine side effect.
Right now, if you go to SF Weekly's home page, you'll see a link to "Photos: When Doilies Go Bad". Click there to see Janine Kahn's take on the show and some of her pics. She calls the show "bizarre but endearing". Funny 'cause this all feels so norrrmalll to me. She's not the only one to respond that way though. I'm getting used to it ;) Thanks, Janine!
My fav pic of the whole show, I must say. Friends enjoy smirking under the silk framed doily that solemnly proclaims "Give us this day, our daily head."
Today Lisa and I hung the show at Benders Bar. Here's a tease of her work:
check it out - SF Weekly's article!
As I read it, I thought wow, I wanna see that show. And then I thought, hey, I wanna make something for that show! And then I realized ... it's my show! Thanks, Traci Vogel, for a great article! Come to the reception! Bring your crochet! Who knows, maybe we'll do something collaborative that night!
