Also... Sweet Girl Mixed Media

Sweet Girl
2000-2001

I have always been attracted to the word girl rather than woman. I’m not sure why, in a way it seems broader. I know it is a personal belief but I’ve always believed it allowed more room for thought. I see the word girl more as an adjective rather than a noun.

It is easy to associate a lot of negative ideas with the term girl. It can be easily assumed that immaturity; irresponsibility, stupidity and other annoying characteristics have been shoved onto the word "girl". A girl could be all these terms, but I know plenty of women who also combine all these qualities to a similar degree.

When I think about the term girl and I work with ideas that revolve around being a girl; I’m talking about something completely different. I don’t view being a girl, rather than a woman as negative; it is honesty and it is a confession. It is being open about the facts that I might not be perfect, that I could be very clever and naïve at the same time, that I am still not confident in who I am as a person. It opens up for growth and wonder and mistakes. That is all I can ask of myself. I like to portray and explore many different aspects and emotions: curiosity, sexuality, insecurity, openness and wickedness.

Maybe, it is partially the Peter Pan syndrome; the worry of growing old and closed minded and set in our same old ways. That is true. That is another reason why I am attracted to the term girl. It reflects youth, which in turn reflects further growth and exploration in both a serious and playful manner.

The term youth or young can apply to anyone of any age. It is a state of mind and not a reflection of a number. I guess what I’m trying to say is, when I explore being a girl and I portray the image of "girls"; I am exploring the idea that all these feelings of wonder and insecurity of inexperience and youth, follow us through out our lives. Rather we want to admit it or not, we all battle with a lot of the same confusion, fear and fun we experienced when we were younger. Though I am a woman now I like to think of myself as a girl because I am really still learning.

Why use a dress and dress form in place of an actual girl figure?

The Dress is The Symbol for youth, naivety, insecurity and inexperience. The dress, more than the girl is the focus for this project. The dress and dress form can be seen as the girl and in this way the "girl figure" becomes anonymous, faceless and her personality comes through in the scenario, environment and the characteristics of the dress instead of focusing on the physical appearance of a real person. Pulling from a more classical style of dress from a time period that was stereotypically just as innocent. I am still focusing on the themes and ideas of the 'Sweet Girl" series. The themes of youth, insecurity and the emotions of finding yourself, are still present, but through placed objects and constructed scenes. Some scenes will be of the more serious reactions to young insecurity. Topics such as eating disorders, sexual pressures and curiosity and the struggle to be accepted by peers, will be addressed. This entire series is about an age where girls are supposed to be Sweet and innocent but in actuality that is usually impossible.