PHELAN MEEK Exhibition Proposal

1
PHELAN MEEKExhibition Proposal

• Fertile Ground
• Medium Mixed Media
• Size Varied
• Date 2007-2009

2
Fertile Ground

• All art is a journey but this show represents the
  evolution of the self of an artist and a woman.
  When I started fabricating sculpture, I worked in
  welded steel. I loved, and still do, the feeling
  of being able to do anything after learning how
  to cut and weld steel. The world was at my
  fingertips.
• Around the same time this feeling took hold I
  began studying archeological evidence of woman
  centered cultures from thousands of years ago.
  This coupled with my background in psychology led
  me to imagine the female in a different way. My
  materials began shifting from steel to resin,
  plaster and glass and my pieces shifted from
  demonstrating the archeological woman to
  examining the female archetype.
• What did it mean to be a woman? What was the
  historical basis for womanhood? What were the
  psychological underpinnings of being female?
• My research and sense of womanhood historically
  and to the present was that her primary attribute
  was being connected to the Earth. Although this
  connection gave her strength, throughout
  relatively recent history she had been boxed in
  by perceptions and misperceptions. As a result
  women felt themselves fragile and breakable when
  in fact they were powerful due to their
  connection with earth, fertility and emotion.
  Hence, the title, Fertile Ground.
• The pieces in this proposed show exemplify
  woman's connection to the earth, how women can
  turn seeming fragility into strength and how to
  discover the potency in female sensibility.

3
Sample Artworks
4
Madalena, A Tribute to Ivan LinsResin, crushed
glass, bird nest, tree branches, Australian
Banksia pods, encaustic on paper, wood.
33x28x7in., 2009

5
Madalena, A Tribute to Ivan Lins
Ivan Lins is a Brazilian singer/composer whose
most popular song is called Madalena. I love
his music so much that I have several of his
albums loaded into my mp3 player. One day as I
stood in my studio with the mp3 player plugged
into my ears, Madalena began to play and this
piece began to appear in my mind. Lins
Madalena is a love song. My Madalena is a
love song to the beauty, fragility and strength
of woman through her connection to her self and
to the Earth.
6
I Long for the Cardinal, RedResin, crushed
glass, found objects, encaustic on paper, window.
24 x 34 in. 2009
Inside View
Outside View
7
I Long for the Cardinal, Red
After many failed attempts to become pregnant I
had reached the end. This was my last time.
After the embryo was implanted I stayed in bed
for a week thinking this would help the embryo
incubate. I was determined. As I looked out
the window the following poem came to me I Long
for the Cardinal, Red A menage a trois of
mourning doves Fights on the ground amongst the
dirt and seeds Finches couple, chickadees acrobat
and squirrels somersault on
branches But, I long for the Cardinal On the
fence across the yard A flash Today Tomorrow? Re
d (The pregnancy was successful.)
8
Homage to a Fragile SelfResin, crushed glass,
photo transfer, holy water fount, wood, paint.
33x28x7in. 2008
9
Homage to a Fragile Self
As the torso made of resin and crushed glass
came out of the mold I realized that this thing
that appeared fragile was in fact strong and
hard. This inspired me to create a religious
type of reliquary to display the torso as It
seemed that the strength inherent in fragility
should be honored in a prayerful way. This sense
of the strength that comes from being in being in
touch with ones fragility became a central theme
in my work after completion of this piece.
10
A Buddha is Born Every Second of Every Day
11
A Buddha is Born Every Second of Every Day
I believe that we all have the capacity for truth
and insight but that it is often socialized out
of us. This became apparent to me when I would
listen to my own child during her early years (
and sometimes now in her adolescence) and be
blown away by her perceptionsso much so that at
one point I thought that she might be a guru. At
26 months of age she excitedly asked for a paper
and pencil because she wanted to write an
inspirational story about the meaning of life. I
was terrified but in awe and wondered what the
future held in store for her. Her musings
continued. She talked about what it had been
like in the womb and remembered being stuck and
that someone had to get her out. These
reflections by my two year old led me to respect
the truth within.
12
Walkin My Vortex Back HomeCopper, boots,
plaster. 54x15x19in. 2007
13
Walkin My Vortex Back Home
This set of works focuses on our connection with
the universe while at the same time we are
connected to the Earth. How better to connect
with the Earth than through our feet?
Walkin My Vortex Back Home is one of my
favorites because it is whimsical and profound at
the same time. It captures the vortex within and
without, our relationship with the universe and
with ourselves.
14
Family LifeResin, copper, burl cap. 48x24x20in.
2008
15
Family Life
Consider the vortex of family life. The
whirlwind of activities, emotion and caring.
Again, feet as the anchor between the vortex and
the Earth.
16
Pied à TerreBurled maple slice, tree bark,
Australian Banksia pods, plaster, paint, copper.
25x18x12in. 2008
17
Pied à Terre
In French, Pied a Terre means but it also means
Feet on the Ground. This piece which utilizes
tree bark and Australian Banksia pods as well as
burled maple exemplifies our connection with the
Earth. We are one with the Earth. We come from
the Earth and we go back to the Earth.
18
Feet of Glass, Yet Firmly PlantedResin, crushed
glass, burl cap. 8x11x13in. 2008
19
Feet of Glass, Yet Firmly PlantedTop View
20
Feet of Glass, Yet Firmly Planted
We are fragile, but have a relationship with
the Earth. We are grounded but fragile. We
exist in relation to the Earth and the universe.