Baker Artist Portfolios

I had been considering trying to work flat for quite a while. Then a call for entry to the Maryland Federation of Art's "Art On Paper Exhibit" got me actually working. Sometimes the criteria for an exhibit might be the motivating push that I need. So, I began with the shallow shadow boxes, some old photographs from the family photo-bin, some of my old lithographs and etchings, and the Art Nouveau switch plate frames (used to protect the wall-paper) that had been sitting around the studio for quite a while too.

This is where my narrative found object assemblage sculpture work began.  I was teaching Art II in high school and my students were working intently on amazing portraits and then self-portraits. Their products were outstanding, but I felt their process was getting stale. In an effort to shake it up I introduced the problem: "Explore the symbolism of found objects in order to create a portrait of a person you have had a long-term relationship with." As the teacher, I needed to make a prototype, so my piece was "Anne's Angel".....a portrait of my mother.

Women are bombarded with images of how we should look, what we should wear, the products we should use. Our face, our hair, our bodies are judged by some unrealistic standard. No wonder so many young girls struggle with body image. At the other end of the spectrum, we older women often feel we are invisible. I do feel that some women are now standing up to this barrage and reminding us that we are each beautiful in our own way. I am trying to do my part in this effort.

We now have many women in Congress, a female Vice-President, astronauts, doctors, and football coaches. Even Barbie has many different careers! The glass ceiling is definitely cracking, which I find very exciting. Opportunities have changed so much just even in my life-time! I wonder how these new opportunities have changed the dreams of young girls. I love how little girls now can portray their "future self" in their drawings. They imagine that they can become anything! I want to celebrate that in my work, but I also want to remind us that this was not always the case.

This series began while I was listening to James Taylor, "Bartender Blues."  The lyric "I need four walls around me to hold my life" resonated with me and I wanted to explore it further. I began to reflect on the different places that I have called home or have felt like "home" to me throughout my life. It caused me to think about the joys and sorrows and how my experiences in each place have shaped me. "501" was my childhood home featuring a caboose, since it was next to the rairoad tracks.

"We Should Believe In  Each Others' Dreams".....I guess, being a teacher, I always have. Actually, I often believed students could go beyond their own dreams. I am very saddened by the lack of empathy and compassion that I see in the world today. I am frustrated by the disrespect and lack of care for all creatures and our natural environment...."There Is So Much That Needs To Be Tended." I watch the news and then I go to my studio to work out my sorrow and frustration. Seeing reports of children escaping violence to be put in cages in our country breaks my heart.

"I Want A Sunday Kind Of Love" is an old song by Etta James. I often get my working titles from song lyrics. I listen to music in my studio, and different lyrics speak to me and I jot them down. I think it's an idea that I'd like to explore further and I don't want it to get lost. When that working title connects with an object (in this case, the kissing bride figure), it gives me my intention to start a new piece. I then add it to my "queue" and begin gathering symbolic/metaphorical objects and artifacts to illustrate the narrative.

As I am aging, I am very aware of "Enjoying The Passing Of Time." In this series I am reflecting on past experiences enjoyed and new adventures that I am looking forward to. I think both activities are very important for our mental and emotional health. Sadly, seniors are often invisible in our society, but I am trying to say, "don't move so fast." We still have dreams to fulfill. If we have made it this far, we are pretty resilient and have first-hand knowledge to share. We are also appreciative of each day and don't take our time on this earth for granted.