message pieces for the neck
I started from anger, or maybe frustration, but continued with joy. I loved the ambiguity of the words being bantered around the media. Fake news, this could have so many definitions. Surely we all know that the news is ‘fake’, but in which direction and from which country? Its stated by a person that assumes you both are operating from the same perspective. It can get funny.
I wanted these pieces, and they aren’t really necklaces, art pieces, to be worn close to the boobies so its uncomfortable for everyone, but yet viewed. They are large and mostly copper and make sound when you are an active wearer. I hope they promote conversation that can be meaningful.
Because the copper necklace workspace size is constrained, I couldn’t write a paragraph, that’s for a different material, like the page. This forced truncation which seems to assist with the desired ambiguity. I’m realizing that my speaking style is kind of like that too- innuendo, quips, partial questions.
And yet sometimes I just can’t wear them in public. Getting shot, jail time, can now happen in the land of the free. I realized that others could feel uneasy, even if they agree with the statements. The companion piece to the necklace is a collage. One can purchase just the photo of the collage and hang it in a private space, like your bedroom. One can purchase a necklace and wear it or hang it on the bedroom wall. One can buy a collage and hang it. So its body wear and wall wear, a bit different, but each has its own aesthetic. Telling me what you think, is free.
I make collages, but these are different. Black satin fabric is laid horizontally. Images are cut and placed in some way relevant to the words, meaning they are not glued down to the fabric, but rather placed on top. A photo is taken and that’s what you would get, a photo. I sometimes mount them and sometimes frame them. Let’s talk.
Below are the words that have been hammered into the randomly formed copper pieces.
A few comments from my perspective.
Common Sense
Hoax
Fake News
Tech Giants
as Railroad
You know the term “Railroaded” for being pushed into something that is not good. It was feeling like that was happening with Data Centers, which I am currently being forced to pay for. And AI which has to potential for lots of human harm, even thought it can be helpful (in writing time saving letters to grandma that have the smaltz appeal she will love you for).
Okay then I thought about how the railroad came across the US, tearing things up, making tons of money for a few, slavery, lets say all manor of mayhem, out of our control, the we the people thing again. Same as it ever was.
Who’s
Freedom
​
This one for me is about abortion, and then it spreads. Freedom always seems to tread on someone else’s freedom. Protection of the fetus so it has the right to birth with no thought of the humans around the fetus, cripples the adults' freedom. Ironically, these are the very people who want the death penalty and show no support for the children that were forced into poverty. No to food programs, better education nor health care. Oh wait, the church steps in to educate the waifs, really to become religious soldiers.
Unrestrained
Power
I put it on to show my guy and he chuckled “this is about feminism isn’t it?”. Why, no. It’s about Congress’ inability to do their job. I step back, I just love interpretations and the ability to soak it all in.
M. Johnson,
R.Vought,
S. Miller
Trump
​
The top three men were involved in Project 2025 and worked behind the scenes to find a charismatic individual who had just the correct amount of psychological issue to be the lead puppet for removing the rules that kept America balanced. If we were looking for a cabal, I think we found it. The font size is important to me. Small trump on the bottom panel.
Woke of the 1920
Unwoke too woke wokery wokeness
Aware
​
In the 1920 this term came out of black culture to encourage people to be aware of racism.
It now allows us to hate people of color as well as women, because somehow they have taken jobs away from the smart white folks. When I look at current hires, we are not getting the smart white ones, only the loyals.
Tariffs
Economic
D-Day
Tariffs are a common punitive treatment. They very rarely work and can spiral us into recession/depression circumstances. It seems like we are getting back at some countries, but tariffs ultimately makes Americans pay higher prices. Most people aren’t happy with higher prices and will accuse Biden of doing it, even now. Lately our war in Iran is going poorly (like from the start) - we have given over many things and still have no peace in site. Our opponent has gained the upper hand. The prices for oil and gas keep rising and its effecting other counties as well. Trump said he would unleash an economic D-Day on Iran. I’m just wondering if its going to spin and hit us first. Can someone please explain that to the old man?
Great Again
is Snake Oil
​
What was great and why are we struggling to get it back. It pulls at the heartstrings of the elderly, the nostalgic (which might involve my previous artists setting the stage) and the patriotic. Such an easy catch phrase. So is Snake Oil.
Here we have a
shit hole country.
​
I know Bill Clinton made the word ‘suck’ okay to say even in mixed company, but ‘shit hole’ was never what I expected from a president. For a long time we got to look down upon countries that floundered in poverty. Those countries didn’t have their people first in priority. They needed help from other nations for a variety of reasons (often greed). I was always embarrassed to hear our leader using such language linked to such thoughts and then it dawned on me that we have become a shit hole country. Government thugs in the streets, benefits being removed, poverty at the same time as excessive spending. Really not caring about the people. I was wondering if there was some country willing to come in and help us.
Crooked
Stupid
Loser
He who smelt it dealt it.
​
These are some names used to bully others.
He who smelt it, dealt it is something children say when they realize that the words are more about the speaker than the bystander.
It's suprising when you witness it from an adult.
Public Lands
for the Public
​
We have worked so hard to conserve lands for perpetuity. For our grandkids to find natural respite in beauty, for sharing, saving animals and bugs and plants. For science. Spaces set aside. Now, with so much speed, these lands are being taken from we the people to financially benefit a few already wealthy individuals. Keep in mind, we paid for those lands. Your tax dollars are being given away.
Repeating a lie
doesn’t make
it true
​
I listen to the radio/internet and I hear a lot of things that simply aren’t true. I hear them over and over. I hear neighbors repeat the words (verbatim and without out research and with great trust in the authority) and it came to me, it's simply brain washing.
Do immigrants
poison the nation's
blood
Is it even possible that a land built on immigration can now claim that its sullying the actual blood of people. I think not. Oh, but now I see some examples.
Post
Patriarchal
​
I got this phrase from Gloria Steinem. She just died. I love the idea of that time distinction. She said when women realized they could be equal to men, then men could realize they too could be equal to women, or something along those lines. What a great way she puts things.
Woman Heart
This old Indian wanted to remember his great grandfather who was named Woman Heart. He had this cool name that we first associate with warmth and kindness. He got the name because when he killed someone, he did it quickly for reasons of kindness.
The old Indian is my first ex-husband and it was his birthday gift.
Federal
Ferrel
Faulty
​
is a lot about playing with the letter F, which makes it all kind of Funny.
It could also be ambiguous.
Lincoln's image is used as just one of the people who is turning in his grave.
The Emperor
has clothes
​
You know the story, right? Everyone was afraid to say the truth to the big guy. I guess if you didn’t read the story, you don’t know the outcome.
Drain
the
Swamp
Again
This was a throw back from the last Trump presidency and it was an appealing cry to get rid of the stagnant people in order to streamline the agencies. Easy catch phrase, brilliant. Lets now do that draining again please.
Define communism
now do authoritarianism.
​
We all have a new definition of communism which now is associated with Democrats. Hopefully folks will look it up and also realize that the fear instilling word ‘communism’ has been used in human history to move citizens away from democracy and into authoritarianism. Please get clear about the actual definitions.
Commerce
over
Planet
​
I like how the placement works here, physically. I gave extra loops for more space in-between the panels.
I’m concerned that when people make a ton of money on something they lose the ability to see how their product causes harm to the environment. We as humans are simply not wired for this type of self investigation.
I invite you to take a moment to enjoy the natural things around you. Notice that someone back in history also enjoyed it enough to come up with a system to categorize the subtilities.
Wild and native are now the new frontier. Exotic because they have almost been wiped out. They still give themselves so freely.
In God we Trust
Crypto
​
Won’t it be great to not have god or religion be part of our financial structure?
Or
Are the Christians feeling okay about leaving the system of paper money or is crypto just the next step away from precious metals as the base for our country to work on, especial in the event of the apocalypse.
Or
You know someone makes money on every financial transaction. I’m glad its our leader.
Witch Hunt
​
I made a single panel necklace specifically for a friend’s birthday. It reads; “Witch Hunt”. She is a strong feminist both in contemporary times as well as historically. I was born in a town very close to where witch hunts happened in history and grew up thinking of those people’s fates (often).
Currently witch hunt is used like the speaker was (or currently being) wrongly pursued, but also I read it like they about to wrongly go after some opponent maybe because they know it so strongly, or its acceptable behavior. It explains the strength of wrongness.