When you come to RedLine this summer to visit the exhibitions "Off The Beaten Path: Violence, Women and Art" and "Notes on Feeling" I invite you to participate in the Rising Matriarch project. This clay sculpture of an African Elephant is waiting for its skin and that's where you come in. Write down or draw in ball point pen on the paper provided your wishes, hopes, fears and stories for women and girls of our community and those around the world. These messages will eventually be cast onto the clay and become the young elephant's skin. Once dry the skin will be removed from the clay and the elephant will be held together by these messages from our community.
Female elephants spend their entire lives in tightly knit social groups made up of many mothers, daughters, aunts and sisters. These groups are led by the eldest female or matriarch. Behaviors displayed by elephants are well documented and include expressions of grief, memory, making music, art, self awareness and altruism. In cultures around the world they are symbols of wisdom, and overcoming obstacles. An "elephant in the room" is also a metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored. At RedLine this young elephant is all of those things as well as a symbol of a rising matriarch; a young female leader. What would you share with her? Please visit RedLine this summer and contribute to this project.
Opening Reception: Friday, June 1, 2012
6-7 Members Reception
7-10 Public Reception
Project runs through July 29, 2012
RedLine
2350 Arapahoe Street
Denver, CO 80205
Tues - Friday 10am - 5pm
Sat - Sun 11am - 5pm
