First attempt at artist statements

Part of the Furniture collection

This collection refers to a time when the tiring nature of a long spell cooking was acknowledged by providing a cook's chair in the kitchen. This chair recognises that cooks need to sit on a comfortable chair when tired, and to put their feet up to be rejuvenated.  And a cup of coffee helps revitalisation.  This artwork is designed to gain a wry smile of recognition from all women who have felt taken-for-granted or unrecognised after a day of Women's Work.

Or:

The cook's chair is an analogy for the way in which women's work improves the family daily life.  Good quality, home cooked food is comforting and warming, particularly when tired.  A comfortable  chair to cushion and support the cook when tired, a stool to rest aching legs and a cup of coffee for revitalisation may gain a wry smile of recognition from all women who have felt unrecognised or taken-for-granted for their labour

80/75 words

Jam Covers (One year's Supply of Jam)

There are 64 jam covers - celebrating the 20lbs marmalade, 40lbs jam and 4lbs lemon curd - made in a typical year by my Mum.  It took 45 hours labour, to create wonderful preserves, for the benefit of the family.  Each jam cover depicts a detail of kitchen equipment, used in the jam making process.  The preserves are unseen, having long been consumed, so the jam covers trigger the memory of labour given freely to her family.

75 words

Roller Towels (Never Ending)

These roller towels represent the never-ending nature of Women's Work.  Cooking and preparing food is a daily process, and cooks wash and dry their hands constantly.  The three roller towels show an activity that moves from being ordinary, to dragging you down, to the realisation that it is unending.

50 words

Needs a lot of refinement, but ok as a starting point.  Now I need to get some photos of my hands working on each collection.  I am too self conscious to put a face shot on the artist statements, but am quite happy to show my hands, as manual work is important to me and part of what I want to represent.