Untitled, acrylic and wasp nest paper on canvas, 24"x36"
I painted this image in anger and frustration as I processed the unfathomable overturning of Roe vs. Wade. The image of a hornet's nest in the shape of a female torso just came into my head, and I had to paint it. I used actual wasp nest paper for the torso. And I wanted to make this big - so compared to my usual work, it's quite large - 24x36." I thought of lots of things as I painted it... of a pinata, of "forbidden fruit"... of faces and female nature deities ... but especially of wasps as fierce, unapologetic female communities... I found it interesting that I struggled to paint a nude female figure, not defined by "beauty," but by anger, and power. Is it "too much?" I found myself thinking, maybe I should do something more nuanced... and then I was shocked I was even thinking that! NO! I. AM. ANGRY. And this is what it looks like.
Update: this painting was exhibited in the "Rude & Bold Women" show in Binghamton, November 2022