Tags
52 earrings, earrings, miscarriage, pendant, polymer clay, spiral, van alphen, wire
Again this month’s ABS challenge piece cross-pollinated with this week’s 52 Earrings theme – Frida Kahlo. When she was young Frida was in a tram crash which left her in constant pain and unable to have children. This particularly affected me as last weekend I had a miscarriage myself – I was only 8 weeks pregnant so it was not as bad as Frida’s experience, but it did mean when I saw this month’s inspiration piece I saw emptiness and loneliness.
ABS inspiration painting
“Nighthawks” (1942) by Edward Hopper
“Henry Ford Hospital” (1932) by Frida Kahlo
The focal bead is polymer clay inspired by the architecture of the curved diner window and the view through the window to the street behind. It is open and empty. The wire spirals are links of DNA chains – broken and missing. The ribbon is blood.
“Gone” by Cate van Alphen
Matching earrings
I didn’t actually want a memento of the miscarriage, but this is what came to me. “Playing with polymer” (as I call it) is keeping me distracted, so I’m not about to tell the muse to go away and come back with something better. Perhaps when I am ready, I will dismantle it.
Fulgorine 
A profound piece – very moving. Thank you.
I am so sorry to hear of your sad event. An early loss of pregnancy is actually very difficult and wrenching; you barely had time to start bonding with your baby and now you are suffering the pain of losing it. Take time to live your grief, and accept the help of your friends who want to share your pain. Actually, a tangible memento could be a wonderful way to commemorate the life of your unborn child. Creating art can be therapeutic. Just follow your heart (and your muse) and don’t allow anyone to minimize your need to express your sorrow.
Thank you. I think mostly it’s me trying to ignore it.
So sorry to hear your news. Take care Cara x
So sorry to read of your sad news. My heart goes out to you. I hope you will find this appropriate – I have featured your necklace on Art Bead Scene today – http://artbeadscene.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/featured-designer-of-week-fulgorine.html
It is a beautiful and inspiring piece, despite what lies behind it. My thoughts are with you x
Thank you for the feature – now I feel even more complicated! The necklace makes me sad, but the feature makes me happy 🙂
This piece brought back the pain so vividly; the focal represents perfectly the wordless and hollow and sad feelings after misscarriage. Very touching necklace. Thank you!
I’m so sorry for your loss and admire your bravery of sharing your work when it is so personal. Your piece is beautiful and I also use red to represent blood in mine.
I am so sorry for your loss, Fulgorine. This is a marvelous interpretation blending both inspirations. There is a lot of emptiness in these art pieces. I see the diner patrons as lost in their own worlds. But the fact that they are together does give me hope that loneliness is not something we have to go through when we can be there for each other, even if it is just sitting elbow to elbow in a diner at night. I know there are no words I can say that will ease your loss, but I want you to know that I am thinking of you. Find your ‘something good’ in every day. Erin
My heart goes out to you as you recover and take care after your loss. Your focal bead was intriguing to me when I first saw it, but now it’s so much more as a little work of art that really tapped into something so personal for you. I hope you find your clay time good therapy. Hugs and prayers.
I’m so sorry you’ve suffered such a loss. I’m happy you have your art to help work through your feelings, raw as they may be. I’m a couple years out from having a premature baby and the feelings about not going to term are complicated at times. Not that that is the same, but your piece resonated with me on that level. Take care, Emma