 photo by America Blasco This installation re-contextualizes my 2010 shag dress as an Egoskeleton. It's a play words, yes, which I pretend to shy away from but find myself going back to, hehe. In spiritual terms the ego often refers to the over-identification with the mind and the shedding of the ego, or realizing presence, is what Hinduism refers to as enlightenment, Buddhism, the end of suffering, and some Christ followers, salvation. This piece is about successfully shedding the ego, if only temporarily, the remains seeming not unlike an exoskeleton. I'm really happy with this use of the shag dress. Last year I photographed it just laying around my house and was really fond of how it looked laying face down. The back of the weaving is interesting, so I love being able to see it too. So, when I started brainstorming as to how I would depict the idea of the ego being shed it was obvious that this was meant to be used for it. It's so bright and showy after all. I'm also interested in seeing it exhibited hanging upside down from a cord, as a kind of reference to the throwing of shoes on telephone wires to commemorate victories or large life accomplishments. Yesterday I photographed it in this way, and as per usual I favoured the detail shots. This is one of my faves (below) 
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Over these past few months I've been taking my Anchor/Cradle around the city with me. Yep, on the metro too. It has been part of healing process of sorts, where while I carry it I do some personal processing. Since the Anchor/Cradle is so large and awkward the act of carrying it reminds me to stay focused on the task at hand which is to be continuously introspective (and not to run into anyone (literally)! Which I have. twice.) This is vague I know, partly because it is perhaps too personal and partly because I am still deciding what it means and where it is going. What I do know is that it has begun to make me kind of sad, so I'm putting the project on hold for a little while. Maybe in a few months I will want to pick it up again. For now the Anchor/Cradle sits on my porch where it will soon be consumed by Montreal's winter. Some rusting should occur on the fabric which I like. The working title for this project is Fragments of an Anchor/Cradle. Above is some video documentation of one of my walks. Thanks for stopping by this space :) Janna  Anchor/Cradle When an anchor doesn't do its job, it may take on another. Sometimes you can expect things from, and be disappointed by the people closest to you, neglecting to acknowledge the gifts they have offered you. Conversely you may perceive that you have nothing to offer, failing to recognize what you have already given.  Anchor/Cradle is a sculpture that I completed in March. It was possibly the most enjoyable piece that I made all year; somehow I was able to complete each step without deciding what the next step would be. So, the process was very contemplative and relaxing. The fabric began as yardage printed with family lines. I then tore it in one continuous strip and bundled it. I contemplated leaving it as a bundle since I loved it so much. I also considered creating a large rosary with the fabric strips but wasn't super happy with the result. So the remainder of the bundle was woven into my welded anchor/cradle structure, with the rosary knots left to hang from the finished sculpture. The metal structure manifested itself in a matter of days. Since I had scrap metal in my locker from a previous project it came together quickly (thank you Concordia for having an amazing welding studio!).
In making this piece I learned that I do not need to know what will happen next in the creative process; to let go of control. Somehow the materials always seem know what to do. The sculpture is about 68 inches wide, 23 inches deep and 23 inches high, not including the neck  Tonight I was playing blocks, or tubes rather, with some discarded vintage photo envelopes that I found on the side of the road a while ago. I wanted to see how much I could do with this material without adding anything to it. The envelopes had a mild adhesive on the lip, but not enough to keep some of the tubes together for long. At first it was really lovely watching them slowly ease into pretty piles, but after re-building it about 4 times I realized that I was having a power struggle with them when the whole idea was to discover what they could do. In the end they decided they wanted to be only partially built. I like them that way too.         I haven't had time to take pictures of the show yet, but here's some pics that some friends took at the opening. I also have a process video still to come.
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About me:
I'm a west coast Canadian gal who after completing a BFA in Fibres at Concordia University in Montreal moved to the New York metropolitan area where I am pursuing my art practice while learning the ropes of motherhood.
June 2021
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