The Other Story series re-envisions the mythical story of Ariadne; the forgotten heroine of the Minotaur myth.  This fanciful and frightening story may be unfamiliar to today’s viewer and yet, it is a story experienced by many lovers, where one sacrifices to save or support another, and then is betrayed by the one who was helped.  I have recast this story of love and betrayal by re-imagining the heroine as a victor in self-realization. She draws strength from her intimate female friends and herself. The women wrestlers’ muscular bodies subvert the notion of femininity. They also personify a seemingly unending competition and internal struggle women have experienced with love and lovers.  The ancient myth is said to have two endings: one where Ariadne is abandoned by Theseus and subsequently hangs herself, and the other, where after her abandonment, Ariadne is found by the god Bacchus, and becomes his consort. My re-told story is not wrapped up tidily with either a tragic or happy ending. My Ariadne is neither a goddess nor a victim, but rather a fully realized woman, who draws strength from her struggle. http://bmoreart.com/2016/08/studio-visit-jessica-damen.html
  • Ariadne's Triumph 21.5x28.75 OL '16
    Ariadne's Triumph 21.5x28.75" OL '16
    “Ariadne’s Triumph” was completed during 2016. It brings this personal myth narrative to conclusion. The painting field is layered and muted. Within the field are the personages of Ariadne: wrestlers, brave and enduring, muscular women. She is the heroine, who completes her quest by killing the Minotaur.
  • Epic Wrestlers 63x127 OC '09
    Epic Wrestlers 63x127" OC '09
    My re-envisioning of this myth sees Ariadne as neither Bacchus’ wife nor the abandoned suicide. She and her counterpart are muscular, wrestling with one another and self. This epic-wrestling match is a quest for life and a struggle for self-identity.
  • Hold on Tight 62x28 OL '08
    Hold on Tight 62x28" OL '08
    “Hold on Tight” is Ariadne before she decides her path. Back lit with stark, bright imagery, her facial profile is elegant and regal. Her hair is built with colorful, twisting palette knife marks. She sits within the belly of the bull. Her throne is both her power and nemesis. At her feet is the red thread, Theseus' lifeline and her fate. This Ariadne has muscular legs. She is an athlete, although she holds onto herself because it takes courage to defy. She is the author of her fate. I image her taking a sip of wine before her battle.
  • Shadows 37x29 OL '08
    Shadows 37x29" OL '08
    Picasso’s “Minotauromachy” inspired “Shadows”. Whereas Picasso’s print has a girl holding the lit candle, I have a young woman, Ariadne, her spine exposed, is bathed in red and black shadows. The woman is complex and full fleshed. A sense of quiet unease permeates the atmosphere. While the monster “other” lurks, it is the mature woman who holds the focal point.
  • Jumping Bulls 52x77 OL 08
    Jumping Bulls 52x77" OL 08
    The Surrealists concentrated on the dual nature of man and beast as personified in the Minotaur. But “Jumping Bulls” directs the viewer’s attention to the relationship of Ariadne and her girlfriends. It is a “what if” story, while recognizing that The Bull is a presence, this story is from the woman’s perspective. In the wall environment are images from Minoan wall mosaics of bare breasted women jumping bulls. Their near nakedness is not for the male gaze. This painting is a counterpoint to hyper-sexualized or helpless images of women.
  • Strange Guests 70x62 OL '07
    Strange Guests 70x62" OL '07
    “Strange Guests” integrates one of Picasso’s bacchanian prints and two of his early 20th century somber women. I wove into this narrative my own family. The oil painting presents a picture of complementarities in color, line and form. The Minotaur, the projection of human’s dual nature, is also a bit of a fluff with his long eyelashes.
  • Who Opened the Window 65x77 OL '08
    Who Opened the Window 65x77" OL '08
    "Who Opened the Window" places Picasso’s depiction of libidinal and aggressive energies within the context of a family gathering. Here the grotesque double is an intruder at the dinner table and the bacchanian feast is integral to the family’s posturing.
  • Conundrum 24x18 OP '09
    Conundrum 24x18" OP '09
    "Conundrum” is a simple portrait of a pensive girl.
  • Touching the Beast 24x18 OP '09
    Touching the Beast 24x18" OP '09
    Once again referencing a print by Picasso, I envision the girl heroine embracing her beast.
  • Punch, 16x20 OP '09
    Punch, 16x20" OP '09
    Ariadne punches her way out of her conundrum.
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