When I was invited to make some pieces for an exhibition in a castle in Austria, the theme was "Markets and Bazaars." I
decided all markets and bazaars needed entertainers and developed
this family of Gypsy Entertainers.
Ode to Joy was the first of the four figures I finished and I still feel happy every time I look at
her. Her facial expression has just the right amount of innocence mixed with knowledge
that I wished to capture. I experimented with brushing dye onto the face fabric directly
after the face was sculpted and before it was painted. I chose the yellow fabric for her
face because it blended the best with her clothes. The dye
applied directly helped to tone the color to exactly what I wanted. She has so much life I
sometimes think she will lift right off that toe. (Notice that her shoes match her belt.)
The rumor is that while she dances to the fiddler’s tune,
she pines for notice from the
Coalition Candidate. This is just a rumor because in truth these are her brothers. And the
tarot reader is her mother. But there, I’ve told you a story and I promised them mum was
the word!
I especially wanted the hand positions of Fiddler One, the second piece
in this series to be correct. A friend who teaches
violin helped me. His hat was an experiment. I used wire
wrapped with stuffing to create the brim and crown. (Notice that his hat
and shoes match.) I enjoyed using fabric with images of musical
instruments.
The one dollar bills in his violin case
are silk screened; a lucky find at a gift shop. I added imitation
ten-dollar gold pieces. So far he has earned thirty-three dollars with
his music.
Since the Coalition
Candidate carries a banner proclaiming "Unity in
Diversity", I made his clothing colors exemplify this: a yellow-orange coat with a blue-violet shirt and a red tie with green socks. His coat fits like
that of Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp. One innovation at the time I
made him, is an open mouth showing teeth.
This tarot reader is called You
Really Need a Vacation and has an expression of warning and surprise, because she has just peeked
at the card she is about to turn over. It is the Tower, which means a breakdown or sudden
change. The rest of the reading also points to a much-needed vacation.
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