COLLABORATION
PINKPROGRESSION: COLLABORATIONS at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
July 2 – November 8, 2020
PINKPROGRESSION: COLLABORATIONS at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities from July 2 – November 8, 2020.
This exhibit incorporates a fusion of narratives through collaborative artwork. These multidimensional works emphasize the collective issues that confront us and the transformational ways of finding common ground. One hundred years ago, the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s right to vote, was ratified. This historic centennial offers us the opportunity to commemorate a milestone, recognize the consecutive dates in which all women attained the right to vote in America, and explore the complex struggle for universal suffrage today. Pink Progression: Collaborations features ideas of feminism, equality, inclusivity, gender identity, unity, community, and more. Over 150 artists, writers, dancers, and musicians utilize the power of networks to inspire social change.
"Motherland," a collaboration with Jessica Drenk was our contribution to the exhibition.
Two luminous carved sculptures encrusted with hollow pink forms stretch vertically in the galleries at the Arvada Center. Between the sculptures, these small pink forms crawl up the sides and spill out the bottom. Julie Maren and Jessica Drenk took inspiration from a series of trips to New Mexico, exploring rocks and canyons together. "Motherland" is both a collaboration that captures their perceptions of creative expansion and spirituality experienced in the desert, and is informed by the contractive backdrop of the pandemic. Collaborating in the time of Covid meant working at home during quarantine instead of together, and with limited materials. This surreal landscape, invites the viewer to contemplate its antipodal forms and layers of meaning.
mixed media and styrofome
2020
The Women's Art League
The Women's Art League is a collaboration between Julie Maren and Joy Alice Eisenhauer, who together create "Vagina China," a large scale feminist, ceramic based art installation that promotes body positivity and raises awareness about issue that impact women today. We have received multiple grants to create this work and the Godmother to our project, Judy Chicago, has given her endorsement and invited us to participate in a film by Yale’s British Art Studies. Plus, with over 200 women participating in the project— essential for creating the work—we take collaboration to a new level. Link below will bring you to project website. Warning: As the title suggests, there is explicit imagery.
Textile Design
Smartwool, Women's Gallery Designer Collection
Smartwool, known for their soft and washable Merino wool socks, accessories and clothes invited me to be the first artist in their inaugural “Gallery" collection. I designed socks and accessories for the Fall 2008, Spring 2009 and Fall 2010 seasons based on my artwork. The following are the gallery series for 2008 and 2010.
ÉSTAINE
ÉSTAINE was born out of a passion to utilize fashion as a medium for cancer education and patient support. All ÉSTAINE accessories are made of 100% silk, in Como, Italy alongside most luxurious of brands.
I designed both a wreath (scarf) and a garland (twilly) of flowers used in cancer treatment: Broccoli, Camptotheca, Catharanthus (Periwinkle), Podophyllum, Yew, Azadirachta Indica (Neem), Camellia Sinensis, Turmeric. The petals are filled with the colors and patterns of various dyes and markers used in cancer diagnosis.