Introducing new artwork by me, Elaine Luther, about domestic labor; this is a series of 5 house forms, each with the inside back wall gold-leafed.
There’s this body of research that shows that whenever “labor saving” devices are invented, and touted as “less work for mother,” they actually result in more work for mother, as standards rise. For example, with automatic washing machines, clothing is washed more often.
This is a series of pieces I’ve been working on for a couple of years. I began collecting dollhouse appliances, and my concept was that each appliance would be at the center of a gold-leafed assemblage piece. I saw two paintings, while traveling, of Mother Theresa, both as an old woman, as the icon she became, and as a young woman, in traditional Albanian costume. Both were on a field of gold leaf. I regret that I did not take a picture of the museum sign, so that I would know the artist’s name.
On and off, I tried to make these pieces work, but they just ended up looking like Our Ladies of Perpetual Housework all over again.
I also collect and built house forms, and I tried putting all the appliances in one house form. Ah-ha! This worked! Here are the images of More Work for Mother.
Here is a side and the back:
Here are some close-ups of the inside:
I also made some smaller ones. Here they are:
Materials:
Found house forms in wood and MDF, imitation gold leaf, acrylic paint, paper collage elements. Dollhouse miniatures in wood, plastic, ceramic, metal assorted plastic toys from various miniature universes.
Measurements:
The large, red one measures: 13″ H x 11.25″ W x 2.25″ D.
The smaller ones are 6″ to 7″ in height and range from 4″ wide to 6″ wide. The small ones are all 1.5″ deep.
: ) Yes! Right up our alleys!
Thanks so much!
Yay! Another exciting tiny thing!