ON THE EASEL - Sisu. Sisu is a unique Finnish concept. It is a Finnish term that can be roughly translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity.
Left Panel of Triptych
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Center Panel of Triptych
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Right Panel of Triptych
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Each panel of this triptych measures 6' x 4'. When placed together they form a 6' x 12' mixed media piece. My mother, on the right, is depicted with her 7 sisters and her mother. Their clothing is collaged from texts of their era, hints from Heloise, Our Bodies, Ourselves by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective, The Mother Book by Liz Smith, Peyton Place by Grace Metalious, The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, and the book my parents received at their 1950 Mississippi wedding entitled, Make Yours a Happy Marriage by O.A. Geiseman.
This piece took me much longer to complete than most of my work, not just because of the size. I found myself researching Finland, the Gogebic Range mining culture that brought my ancestors and others to the harsh northern area of Hurley, Wisconsin and Ironwood, Michigan. Every detail is full of meaning. For example, the Lilies of the Valley in the lower right are placed near my mother whose name was Lily. Lilies of the Valley are the national flower of Finland. There is also a reference to Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, (lower front center panel) although I'm not explaining that one at this time.
I think about my grandmother who never wanted to leave Finland. I think of these women and how they married, some well - some not so well, raised children, suffered physical abuse, served in the WAVES, cleaned hotel rooms and worked other jobs that made their bosses look good, smoked, drank, danced, laughed, and spoke a strange form of pidgin Finnish late into the night at the kitchen table when us kids were supposed to be sleeping. As I think about the Me Too Movement, I think about these women and all the hardships they endured. They're the pure embodiment of Sisu.
This piece took me much longer to complete than most of my work, not just because of the size. I found myself researching Finland, the Gogebic Range mining culture that brought my ancestors and others to the harsh northern area of Hurley, Wisconsin and Ironwood, Michigan. Every detail is full of meaning. For example, the Lilies of the Valley in the lower right are placed near my mother whose name was Lily. Lilies of the Valley are the national flower of Finland. There is also a reference to Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, (lower front center panel) although I'm not explaining that one at this time.
I think about my grandmother who never wanted to leave Finland. I think of these women and how they married, some well - some not so well, raised children, suffered physical abuse, served in the WAVES, cleaned hotel rooms and worked other jobs that made their bosses look good, smoked, drank, danced, laughed, and spoke a strange form of pidgin Finnish late into the night at the kitchen table when us kids were supposed to be sleeping. As I think about the Me Too Movement, I think about these women and all the hardships they endured. They're the pure embodiment of Sisu.