The Sculpture “Bone Ladies” is intended to encourage conversation among people about American women since the Dobb’s decision .
The parchment paper “womb”at the top of this sculpture is made from a British Indenture, scribed and wax sealed in1627. It is a discarded land grant from a husband to a wife. When it was given to me, I happened to be thinking about broken contracts and had started a series of folded and embroidered pieces.
Americans now live in a world where women can legally be forced to bear children. This paper-womb represents our American legal system’s power over women’s bodies and their personal healthcare.
The gold leaf represents the perceived preciousness of an American woman’s life and body. Our bodies, however violated, with spirits depleted, with no right to privacy and freedom of choice, are now exposed to the entire world as worth nothing but flesh for the taking.
The dolls and the turning of the sculpture represent the passage of women’s lives as psychological and spiritual beings as wards of the state, lives that must continue to endure the imposition of degradation and suffering. The amulets and handwork of lace and fabric represent the ways women may find personal peace, and hold on to the dream a kinder gentler world beyond bondage and violent assault. The bones represent the skeletons of the Crones who have tried to warn women over the ages: do not keep secrets, do not fall prey to torture. We all learn to take care of each other by sharing the truth, the best of life, not the worst of lies and corrupted managed by power mongers.
Artist’s Narrative
