Hello friends!
I’ve been slowly, slowly working on a new series of Anatomica for the Morbid Anatomy Museum. I really wish I had more arms, and less need for doing things, like going grocery shopping, eating or sleeping, because I really could work on these forever.
(The part which jana talks about death)
This time, while deep down in the depths of intestines, and anatomical hearts, we had some very sad news. A friend’s wife died very suddenly and tragically, leaving a very large hole in our tiny community. She was an amazing woman, whom, sadly, i barely knew. Only now I have found out what an asset she was to our town, and how many lives she affected in a tremendously positive way. It’s just so sad. Her name was Paula.
It’s kind of knocked a lot of us off our feet.
And while this was happening, I was working on these figures… and I kept asking- why am I so drawn to them? Why does so much of the work I do have something to do with death?
I think I fool myself. I think I work on these, because I am so accepting of death, so accepting of it’s important and vital role to life. With death, comes life. It’s a beautiful cycle. I truly believe and accept this.
But I’m so not ok with it. I think in reality, the reason I’m so drawn to this darkness, is because it allows me to pretend I am in control of the Ultimate Uncontrollable. I’m trying to take some of the scare away. But I’m not sure if anything can take the scare away.
But this event has prompted me to get off my ass and finally write a will, so that i can leave my sons my four shiny pennies. And I’ve signed up to donate my whole body to a nearby medical school for research. Things I’ve been meaning to do for a long time.
Because it’s going to happen, and we may as well control the few aspects of it that we can, right? In the meantime, i‘ll continue thinking, thinking, thinking…
*deep breath*
The Anatomica
Here are the four pieces which will be available through Morbid Anatomy Museum, tomorrow Thursday , November 18th at approximately 10 am, EST.
Bella, Anatomica was created using wire, clay, and many different, select fabric remnants. Her torso is essentially a cage, holding her suspended insides, which drape down. She can hang on a wall, or sit on a shelf. Her arms and hands are gently posable. Her length from head to the tip of her firm torso is 18 inches, her organs extend to approximately 27-33 inches.
Cleo, Anatomica is a 11 inch high anatomical bust, focusing on the incredibly beautiful and complicated circulatory system. Her inner and outer torso are covered with antique Gustave Doré etchings. Her veins, arteries, heart and kidneys are suspended within her, and created with wire, clay and threads.
Maeve, Anatomica is an 11 inch high anatomical bust. The front of Maeve’s torso is covered with fabric and hand-stitched and embroidered organs, veins and arteries. Her sides and back are covered in vines. I imagine Maeve being laid to rest in a dark, creeping forest.
Katrin, Anatomica is a 13 inch long anatomical doll in a 16 inch rough-hewn coffin, which can hang on a wall, or lay on a shelf. Katrin’s delicately exposed inner workings are contained in an antique fabric covered torso. Her arms and small hands are gently posable.
~~~
I am also working on a collection of dolls to have ready sometime before Christmas, think: Thieving Urchins.
I hope you all are having a peaceful Autumn.
xo jana