CAROLINE RUSTThe Tints That

Glow

She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!

BY LORD BYRON 1788–1824

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• A favorite when a teen, The poem She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron as backbone

• Fashion and cosmetics as a forward

• Revisit femininity like the poem does – contrasts and opposites meet in a woman, expose that which is beneath the physical

• Explore connections between women and objects of use/ importance/ meaning

• Create a different type of historical study – women juxtaposed to their things

The Tints That Glow

{and what it means to be female…

My work is about…women

ARTIST STATEMENT

Growing up in the 1970s with parents emerging from the unfolding equal rights movement, I enjoyed many freedoms that females before me were not able to enjoy or discover. One such, seemingly minor liberty was toy selection; my parents did not pressure me in my preference. Both the garbage truck and the doll were acceptable options. So I determined that Charlie’s Angel Dolls were more appealing than Barbie Dolls. Always stylish and chic, the Angels were beauty and brains wrapped in one package. They seemed to have potential to participate in more activities; fun activities expanding their horizons and working with boys. In later years as a teen, the sculptures of Rodin and the poetry of Lord Byron touched me deeply. The romanticism attracted me. As did the poem “She Walks in Beauty”. Always one of my favorites, yet, re-visiting the poem today, it takes on new meaning about the feminine. Contrasts, opposites meet in this woman and the femininity that is beneath the physical is highlighted. Today, I enjoy dressing up, adorning myself with makeup and consider myself exceptionally feminine and I equally appreciate a challenge in the pursuit of knowledge or an ambitious accomplishment. My artwork investigates the internal lives of women. Based upon a foundation exploring femininity and its evasive characteristics, the work’s emphasis has unfolded into a deeper examination of the woman’s pursuit for identity, her journey through life searching for a deeper understanding of herself. Interested in the paths of women, it is my goal to deepen the public's perception of women and the feminine world. Most of my works at present are installations. They are multifaceted; made up of fragments acting as variations upon a theme or alternatives of a singular subject matter. Similar to words in a sentence, each individual piece in an installation is an essential part to the whole and the totality of the grouping depends upon the relationship between these parts. Much like our individual histories, these artworks are carefully layered with meaning through the integration of a variety of media – paint and fibers – and items like gloves, lipsticks, and demitasse cups, compacts, locks, miniature china plates. Through a study of objects which play roles in women’s lives, I aim to share a new landscape with viewers about women; a different type of history about women, their inner worlds when juxtaposed to their things. Traditionally women have been conditioned to not be overly or outwardly emotional or self-focused. Etiquette typically has obligated women to calm predictability and societies restricted her to controlled paths. As modern women recover from these and other cultural stigmata, my study questions what it means to be a woman, a girl, a female. What are her characteristics? How much strength and weakness must she show, must she hide? To tackle these questions, I look to the past for influence and have drawn inspiration from various historical female figures. It is the woman who chooses to take the path least taken, the path of more resistance, the path against the pressures of society who moves me. Empathetic to women who wrestle with the societal impact of their times, cultures and their individual obstacles; by learning about their personalities and stories I am able to better understand the woman’s search for a sense of self. I stand in awe of their strength to value their competence and their ability to find confidence to develop and nurture the expression of these abilities. This is an evolutionary time in our world for women; in addition to the U.S., many countries abroad are pushing the envelope. The divide between gender roles is increasingly narrowing in business and the home. As women evolve and move forward, I feel strongly that we must not forget femininity and those influential females that came before. Their victories, no matter how small or large, internal or external are our victories.

Women Who Inspire Me These women, with an internal power and drive, help strengthen me with the knowledge and discovery of their bravery, courage, and steadfast devotion to live their lives by their terms while in the pursuit of a goal. Alice Paul Artemisia Gentileschi Azar Nafisi Barbara Streisand Camille Claudel Charlie’s Angels Clara Schuman Clementina Maude Hawarden Cyndi Lauper Diana, Princess of Wales Elizabeth Tudor Emily Carr Emmeline Pankhurst George Sands Joan of Arc Josephine Bonaparte The Lady of the Silent Pool Lysistrata Maya Angelou Natalie Merchant Pat Benatar Pocahontas The Suffragettes Sylvia Plath Tori Amos Virginia Wolfe Wonder Woman Key Words Adornment Cosmetics Empowerment Fashion Femininity Gender roles Historical-Female-Figure Identity Image Reflections Romanticism Self Sensuality

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• Investigate the internal lives of women

• Explore femininity and its evasive characteristics

• Examine the woman’s identity, her journey through life, and her search for a deeper understanding of herself

These works

Works that Came Before

Fibers and Textiles

purple pouches,

2006

secrets stolen, 2006

wedding dresses; homage to a young woman drawing, 2006

I always thought I could be someone, artemisia, camille, emily 2010

I always thought I could be someone, camille detail

Paintings and Installations

shall I follow myheart; forelizabeth2001

fire in the night series

joan camilleartemisia

2010

wounds that never bleed; for diana, complete installation view 1998

wounds

wounds that never bleed; for diana, selection installation view 2009

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• Multifaceted – marring paintings and objects

• Made up of fragments • Similar to words in a

sentence, each piece of an installation is essential to the whole and the relationship between the parts vital

• Layered with meaning much like the histories of our lives

• Integrate a variety of media and techniques – paint, fibers, craft, sculpture

Installations

memories of ivanhoe, complete installation view 2006

memories of ivanhoe, partial installation view 2006

memories of ivanhoe, selection installation view 2009

ivanhoe details

On with the show…

The Tints That Glow

preserving traditions, complete installation view 2011

preserving traditions, partial installation view 2012

preserving traditions, details

in the shadow of blue, rendering installation view without shelves 2011

in the shadow of blue, installation view with shelves 2012

Process and Inspiration

in the shadow of blue, in progress

in the shadow of blue, baby

in the shadow of blue, teen

in the shadow of blue, middle-aged adult

Camille Claudel CAMILLE CLAUDEL: A LifeOdile Ayral-Clause (Author)

Coco

Chanel

Elizabeth Tudor

The Virgin’s LoverPhilippa Gregory (Author)

Coco

Befo

re C

hanel

A fi

lm b

y A

nn

e Fo

nta

ine

to th

e b

eat o

f my h

eart I w

ill listen

se

ries, in

spira

tion

to the beat of my heart I will listen series, 2012

eliza

beth

; the w

orld

on m

y sh

ould

er

cam

ille; m

y b

eautifu

l se

cret

chanel; th

e lu

re o

f the a

llure

you will be deeply loved, inspiration

Lady Clementina Hawarden

you will be deeply loved, 2012

you will be deeply loved, details

{

• Deepen the public’s perception of women and the feminine world

• Awaken viewers to reflect upon the journeys of women

• Share a new landscape about women

• Revitalize femininity keeping it alive

Goals

Lad

y

Cle

men

tina H

aw

ard

en

reflections in powder dust, inspiration

reflections in powder dust, in progress

reflections in powder dust, 2013

locks of locks, in progress

locks of locks, 2012

Little Girls Are Made of Sugar and Spice and

Everything Nice Senses Series, 2013 inspiration

The Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries – Musee Cluny,Paris, France

SIGHT; you can dress me up, in progress

SIGHT; you can dress me up, 2013

Need to add other senses with inspiration pics too

future

{thank you

The Tints That Glowwww.carolinerust.com