“Not a word,” I said to the women when my daughter and I walked into the exercise studio. Emma, three-years-old at the time, was dressed in her favorite red boots, a white faux fur sweater, and a net tutu sewn with fairy bells no bigger than her fingernails. Can’t remember if she had the duck mask on that morning. “Not a word,” I repeated, “twenty years from now she will be telling you what to wear.” We have one year to go.
Over the weekend we attended Emma’s art opening at Trinity College — a series of eight paintings comprising the culmination of her senior thesis in Studio Arts. She had a tough time convincing a professor or two that fashion and art had anything to do with one another. The show relegated such opinions to shmatta land.
What a thrill to see Emma’s name high on the whitewashed gallery wall above her artwork. Each letter, black and blocky, was a little gavel of affirmation. This. Talented. Young. Woman. Has. Arrived. The gallery quickly filled with classmates and professors. I heard squeals of,”Oh my gosh!” and “I can’t believe this one!” And “How does she do this?” and “I want a pair of boots like that!”
Emma’s artist’s statement was passed hand to hand explaining to all comers her twin obsessions with fashion and using individual letters as artforms. As plain as I can put it, Emma took the quotes by her favorite fashion designers and manipulated the letters of their words into paintings of their clothing.
Better to show you.
Triumph glowed in her eyes. Someone had taken Emma aside to say, “Your paintings inspire me to want to do something creative.” Emma’s courage in forging her own creative path had awakened in someone else’s heart a yearning for self-expression. Five-five in stocking feet and a tower-above-her mother-five-nine in her orchid patent leather shoes, she stood taller than I’d ever seen her.
“I knew I had it in me,” she said after the show, “but it feels good to have other people see it in me, too.” As she said in the closing of her artist’s statement, “…Using words in my thesis not only made sense but was the only way I wanted to express my love of fashion. The words of these artists and designers inspire my passion and help give me courage to continue down my own path … wearing a fur coat and tutu if need be.”
Emma is so talented. I’ve never seen anything like her pieces. She’s going places; I can feel it.
Beautiful!
Debra,
Obviously, a reflection of her mother.
Congratulations, Emma.
Iris
WOW! Can’t wait to see them up close and personal! L, G’ma L
That was wonderful. It had to have been incredible for you to walk into EMMA’S show- to see her work, her thoughts and her expression on the walls.
It’s interesting that she has combined words with imagery to get her message across. You are such a wordsmith- both on paper and in conversation. She has taken this “word smithing” to a different
dimension. And you too have done it againwith your beading.
In any case- a beautiful blog entry and beautiful work from Emma.
Love, me
To Emma and Debra,
Bravo to both! I can’t imagine a greater thrill for both of you and for the entire family. We will continue to enjoy following the life and times of Emma.
Love,
Verne
Debra,
Emma’s work is awesome. What a talented young woman. You and Martin must be so proud. Loved your blog entry too.
Love,
Denny
How exciting to see Emma’s work — it’s fabulous — and, yes, very inspiring. I can’t wait to show it to Alicia. I’m sure she’ll want a pair of boots like that, too!
Love,
Joanne
Thanks for sharing Emma’s work and Mazel Tov to her!
Love watching Emma grow. Her work is wonderful. Hope to see her this summer. We’ll be in the New York area for the month of July. Love, Anita