Sheroes

 

Beatrice Cenci for Harriet Hosmer, 31” tall, black walnut, 2023. Photo credit: Brian Wilson SOLD

Harriet Hosmer (1830-1908) was a renowned stone sculptor, ahead of her time. She grew up in Watertown, Mass. but lived in Rome most of her life. She often shied away from popular subjects in favor of more challenging ones. One of her major pieces is called Beatrice Cenci, for the Italian nobleman who, with her siblings and one of his wives, killed her abusive father, was tortured, and eventually beheaded.  Beatrice Cenci has become a symbol to the people of Rome of resistance against the arrogant aristocracy. It is rumored that every year on the night before the anniversary of her death, she comes back to the St. Angelo Bridge where she was executed, carrying her severed head.

Blood Thirsty, 42” tall, cherry, enamel, 2023. Photo credit: Brian Wilson

Tomyris was the legendary Turkish Queen who killed Cyrus the Great. The story goes that she refused his hand in marriage, and he took revenge on her by ambushing and killing her husband and son. She went to war against him and out maneuvered him on the battlefield. She ordered her soldiers to bring her his severed head, which she dunked in a cask of blood, saying "Now you can have your fill of blood" since he was so bloodthirsty. My sculpture is a python headed woman, with a tattoo that says "No" in Persian. She wears the severed head of her enemy as a trophy around her neck like a piece of jewelry. Tomyris is a popular subject in art history. But there are not many contemporary visions of her.

 

Every Mother is a Warrior, 56” tall, black oak, enamel 2021. Photo credit: Brian Wilson SOLD

This commissioned piece has not been exhibited before, but the owners want it to be seen. My friend lost his mother recently. He told me that her favorite bird was the red winged blackbird. He cut down this tree to build a new addition on his family’s home where this sculpture now resides. I took one look at the log and saw two figures- a large maternal figure and a small girl child. I added painted wing patterns in the signature colors of the red winged blackbird- red, yellow and black. He has since shared with me that his mother was a warrior who battled mental health issues all her life. His kids call the sculpture "Grandma."

 

Tomboy,  42” tall, honey locust, oil stain, enamel, 2023. Photo Credit: Brian Wilson

Hua Mulan was the Chinese warrior who is said to have dutifully taken her father's place in the army to preserve her family's honor. There is a famous quote where she says, “The male and the female rabbit have physical differences but when they are running side by side, you cannot tell them apart.” So I created a rabbit headed female figure who is standing in shoes obviously too large for her, covering her breasts, and she has a tattoo meant to symbolize being a tom boy.

 

The Madwoman of Chess or Autonomous Was a  Woman, 37” tall, honey locust 2023. Photo credit: Brian Wilson SOLD

Caterina Sforza was an Italian noblewoman who lived life on her own terms. When one of her enemies surrounded her castle and threatened to kill her children she called their bluff by lifting her skirts, baring her genitals and saying "Go ahead, I have the means to make more!" She earned the nickname The Tigress of Forli. My sculpture is a full bodied figure with her mouth open, symbolizing a woman who is comfortable in her own skin, not subject to the male gaze.

Update: Cate McQuaid reviewed my show with Barbara Broughel's show "Requiem Portraits" at Krakow Witkin Gallery on Sept 24, 2023, Witchy women: Witch hunts, Sheroes, and the blessings of age.

James Foritano reviewed my show with Alison Croney Moses' show "The Habits Of Reframing" at Abigail Ogilvy Gallery on Sept 28, 2023 for Artscope Magazine, TWO GALLERIES, TWO TELLINGS, ONE HISTORY: THE WOODEN MARVELS OF DONNA DODSON AND ALISON CRONEY MOSES