Sooooo… I Was Planning On Joining Mermay At The Beginning But This Moth Was Really Busy For Me. I Decided

I moved in another country a while ago. I really miss my best friend and we are both having some hard time lately. Especially her. So I drew her this! Just smile, sis!😁❤💛💚💙💜

Today I found this big white shell in one charity shop. I was looking for a little one of this exact kind for… Maybe a year now. Back then I made a necklace with regular markers and clear nail polish and I’m wearing it everyday. Anyway, I wanted to make more! This time I used Sharpies and it turned out brighter and more colorful. So I wanted to share my new creation! PS I found the aqua blue Sharpie comes off pretty easily. If you have the same problem with any of the Sharpies you can top it with clear nail polish, clear taco or HOLO taco. 😃😉

did jesus celebrate christmas?

i summon history and religion tumblr to answer this before my friend and i decide to never speak to each other ever again.

Writers: Bad people are still people with their own problems and emotions, even when they cause problems and distress and hurt other people.

Tumblr Gremlins: Problematic. Blocked.

context: i'm looking at studying abroad (even tho i'm broke af) and just... yea... it do be like that sometimes

ok but do i really need health insurance?

Too bad the prophet Cassandra never met Odysseus

Puppy-dog!!! Doing some art homework... It turned out better than I thought it would.

does anybody else wake up in the middle of the night suddenly remembering that one scene in lore olympus when kore summoned hades and then they had that butterfly&moth moment??? because i do... and i am still sad webtoon doesn't allow me to screenshot because i want to tattoo that final moth & butterflies panel on both my arms, put it as my wallpaper, print it out and tape it all over the my room, create stickers and stick them to all of my friends' faces because babes, y'all are beautiful but THAT PANEL.

THAT PANEL.

T H A T P A N E L .

it's beautiful. i love it.

i want to live as long as possible just so i can look at it. adore it. be in awe of it's beauty and symbolism.

i don't need therapy. i need that panel.

Art History: I Will Bend But I Will Not Break (1998)

 For this week’s art history we were asked to look at an assemblage and to be completely honest, I was rather intimidated by that task as I don’t have much experience with this particular art form both as a creator and audience. After a couple of hours of just researching I managed to find an artist and a piece that really sparked my interest.

Inspiration can be found anywhere and for Betye Saar that at a Pasadena City College flea market. She stumbled upon a vintage ironing board the shape of which reminded her of a slave ship. What followed were a couple of years of brainstorming and idea development that would eventually become “ I Will Bend But I Will Not Break”.

Saar’s work is known to take everyday household objects and turn them into social commentary – her most common themes being racism, feminism and spirituality. There is so much to unpack in this assemblage, it’s incredible how thought-out each element is. The British diagram of the packed hold of a slave ship from the XVIII century. The image of a black woman ironing. The flatiron chained to the board. The bright white freshly ironed sheet hung with the KKK initials on it. The caption “I Will Bend But I Will Not Break” printed on the board. All components working to together to retell history. Saar’s speaks of the idea that once you arrive, once you get of that ship you’re slave. There is also the element of the chained flatiron combined with the silhouette of the board, also resembling a casket, making the sinister statement that you work till you die, your life’s over the moment you step on that ship. A detail that I adore about this assemblage are the embroidered initials of the KKK on the sheet hanging behind. The irony is beautiful! It so subtle but it carries so much meaning, the irony that the ones the Klan hate so much are the same people who did all their dirty work, allowing them to live in comfort.

And the title!!! No way of not talking about the caption also printed on the piece! On this one tho, I believe the artist herself puts it best “… that seemed to imply the political message that I wanted; that you can treat me as a slave and I’ll bend down, up and down to pick up cotton, I’ll bend down to this and to be a labourer but I will not break”.

In an interview, Saar mentions that the flatiron she used in the piece is like the one her own grandma used to use… I believe there is something to be said about the chain effect those historical events (which really weren’t as long ago as most would like to think) has had/is having on the following generations. However, I don’t think I’ve educated myself enough to really dive that deep yet and even if I was, as a white European, it is very much not my story to tell. I hope and would highly recommend you check out Betye Saar’s work! The lady’s been around for a long time (born in 1926, 94 y/o in 2020!!!) and has created many, many powerful pieces tackling various topics.

Resources: 

YouTube:  Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)  - 1 Betye Saar: Call and Response // Exhibition Walkthrough

Los Angeles Times -  Review: Betye Saar turns an ironing board into the story of American racism. LACMA shows how

images from LACMA

PSA: As I mentioned I am not a POC, I have tried to be respectful but if you find an issue with anything I’ve written, please, tell me so I can fix it right away.