Embrace [slide]
by Julia Margaret Becker
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts
Montana State University
© Copyright by Julia Margaret Becker (1993)
Abstract:
no abstract found in this volume EMBRACE
by
Julia Margaret Becker
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
of
Master of Fine Arts
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bozeman, Montana
November 1993
53% )
ti
APPROVAL
of a thesis submitted by
Julia Margaret Becker
This thesis has been read by each member of the thesis committee and has been found to be
satisfactory regarding content, English usage, format citations, bibliographic style, and consistency,
and is ready for submission to the College of Graduate Studies.
Approved for the Major Department
Approved for the College of Graduate Studies
Date
i/
/
m
I
i H
.
Graduate Dean
STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE
In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment o f the requirements for a master’s
degree at Montana State University, I agree that the Library shall make it available to
borrowers under rules o f the Library.
If I have indicated my intention to copyright this thesis by including a copyright
notice page, copying is allowable only for scholarly purposes, consistent with "fair use" as
prescribed in the U.S. Copyright Law. Requests for permission for extended quotation
from or reproduction o f this thesis in whole or in parts may be granted only by the
copyright holder.
Signature
Date
I
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
The child says "Tell me a story from your real life." And that is all one can really
do.
First there was the egg, then the pulse and rhythm. The egg spoke o f procreation
and fertility. The inside o f the egg spoke o f generation and synapsis. Drawings made with
eyes closed followed closely. Reams o f paper unfurled through veils o f tears, marked by
an unsteady heart searching for light, these blind drawings. Rowers bloomed out of
darkness and birth was vulnerability and immense power all at once. A t the moment of
birth all present understood death, and how we pass through both thresholds and
sometimes wait on the edge, holding tight. Prayers followed, prayers for survival, growth,
generation. Gold papers cut ever so gently, quietly, each one a specific prayer for a
specific child. In the meantime there were angels, fallen angels, earthly angels, guardian
angels, oceanic angels. They came with fragile skin, strong wings, and empowering souls.
They brought hope from ancestors and strangers and some danced with an awkward grace.
The milk flowed and the child opened her mouth to the sky. Momentum caught and the
wheel o f life began to turn once again. Everyone still held their hands close to the child
and pulled forth the warm pulse that yearned to be connected, to beat in rhythm. The
silence was still vital, there was unknown listening to be done. They held tight, their
hearts and souls bound. They did not notice the seasons changing and lost track of others’
names. Their focus was on the child. In their work they made prayers and built shrines.
In their hands they remembered places lived and traveled, and it came forth. There were
big golden heads made o f maps that guarded over them and kept their traveling shoes safe
2.
for future journeys. This was a stormy passage but eventually the child smiled. And the
healing began.
In celebration a tent was erected and decorated. Tribute was made to the angels
(the oceanic angels especially as they celebrated the child named Sea Jewel), and to the
pulse of ocean, and strength of stones and life-giving forces of growing things. They had
been nomads and knew we all were, always, a transient existence. They were bedouins
and gypsies and loved to play circus and sleep outside too. The drawings on the walls
were tattoos and weavings, stories real and fearless. There were so many stories and they
were gifts to disperse like seeds into the hearts of others. They placed them all in the
tent and invited their friends oyer for dinner. The world was all warm and delicious now
and they could hold the vessels in their hands and know they had reached a resting spot.
A full circle, a peaked roof, an orange to eat... the child was happy and she began to sing
the most beautiful song that perhaps only her parents could hear now. But there would
be a future, and in this moment they celebrated this.
3
LIST OF SLIDES
1.
Embrace
approximately 21" x 49"
Tableau paper, laidon top of "Prayers" (see #17)
2.
View of Exhibit
looking into gallery from south entrance
3.
View of Exhibit
standing in east room, looking west
4.
View of Exhibit
standing in west room, looking east
5.
Procreation (The Big Egg)
62" x 39" x 4"
acrylic on gessoed canvas, stretched on bent wood frame
6.
Birth Canal
22" x 20" x 26"
acrylic on gesso on five found cow pelvises
7.
Surge (blind drawing)
<
13' 3" x 5’
ink, acrylic, graphite, and gesso on roll paper
8..
Visually Stimulating Guardian Angel
48"x 72"
acrylic on gessoed canvas
9.
The Tattooed Baby Shrine
4’ x 6' 3"
acrylic on gesso and collage (color Xerox and Josh paper) on canvas, tacked to
painted (acrylic) wood with copper tacks - shrine table with flowers
10.
Growing Things
series of 36, range in size from 4" x 3" x 2" to 19" x 11" x 4"
acrylic, gesso arid collage on found wood objects
clockwise starting at bottom left corner:
#26 - Pink Face (Visionary)/backside: Growing Antennae Drum Dancer
- #11 - Union
#18 - Small Head
#15 - Healing Hands
#17 - Daniel’s Boat Nd. 2
#10 - Little Directional One
#1 - Yellow Bhudda Woman/backside: Hands in the Light
4
11.
Female Guardian Icon
39 1/2" x 51 1/2" x 2 1/2"
gesso, ink, acrylic and collage (maps, Japanese and Chinese wrapping paper,
Josh paper) on panel - gesso and acrylic on carved frame
12.
Eula’s Angels
44"x 46"
ink and collage (Josh paper, maps, Japanese and Thai packaging paper, dried
flowers) laminated with Tableau and Moriki rice papers
13.
Persistence (from series of Growing Things)
6 1/4" x 14 1/4" x I 1/2"
acrylic on gesso on found wood object (double sided)
Other pieces showing (starting at top right corner):
edge of book "Eula’s World"
backsides of "Growing Things"
#12 - Journey
#10 - Little Directional One
#11 - Union
14.
Male Guardian Icon
39 1/2" x 51 1/2" x 2 1/2"
gesso, acrylic and collage (maps, Japanese and Chinese wrapping paper, Josh
paper, marbleized paper, woodcut) on panel - gesso and acrylic on carved wood
frame
15.
Knowing Things
6 1/4" x 11" x 2 1/4"
acrylic on gesso on found wood object
16.
Wheel of Life/Milk from Heaven
32"x 48"
acrylic and collage (maps, Josh paper) on panel
17.
Prayers
each sheet approximately 15 1/2" x 23"
total dimension of piece approximately 480" x 122"
Josh paper, maps and India ink on Mexican bark paper
18.
Installation view:
Fallen Angel (Male) and Prayers
19.
Fallen Angel/Guardian Angel (Male)
108"x 86"
ink, acrylic, collage (Japanese tea paper, Josh paper, map and woodcut) and
polyurethane on laminated Tableau paper
5
20;
Fallen Angel/Guardian Angel (Female)
93"x 78"
ink, Japainese tea paper and polyurethane on laminated Tableau paper
VIEWS OF TH E TENT:
21.
Backside of "Tent" and "Moon"
Tent: 10’ x 10’ x 10’
Golden acrylics on 10 oz. canvas
Moon: 19" x 21"
Josh paper on rice paper
Behind tent on wall is "Prayer" piece.
22.
Side of tent to the left of tent entrance.
23.
Door side of tent, doors open.
24.
Entrance to tent, looking in the doors.
25.
Inside of tent. Detail.
26.
Looking out doors from inside of tent, to "Prayer" piece.
27.
Paper Dolls
acrylic on cut-out Tableau paper
Details of tent frame, fir and jute twine.
28.
Table in center of tent: seven hand-made books, one clay horn, one polished
stick, one end card-weaving, bowl of 13 oranges (6 were eaten), and three
"Growing Things"
#17 - Daniel’s Boat # 2
#18 - Small Head
#19 - Growing Thing
On floor of tent:
Synapsis
80" x 72 1/2".
acrylic on gesso on canvas, polyurethaned
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