We are back on Paros! And posts this summer will be directly related to this wonderful island, its surroundings and its people.
In the meantime, why not take a look at this easy summer dessert recipe: Yogurt & Lemon from the blog aegeanpan…they like PAROS, too.
The Rolling Stones and Gwen Stefani via FB
Last week, Gwen Stefani made an “unexpected” appearance at the “50 And Counting…” Rolling Stones concert in L.A. After listening to her “Wild Horses” duet with Mick, I felt much better about my own singing-in-the-shower versions of Stones’ songs. And I’m not the only one to give Stefani a bad review.
Stefani, often considered some sort of fashion icon, wore a “personalized” Stones t-shirt. Ok, so she cut off some sleeves. Wow. Look, it’s not my intention to dedicate this post to bashing Stefani but take a look at my Muy Marcottage hupil dress below. Now that’s a sign of true Stones’ spirit!
“Jumping Hot Flash” Muy Marcottage Huipil Dress
I made this huipil dress the summer of 2007 using a counterfeit Rolling Stones t-shirt bought outside the Stone’s concert in Rome of the same year. It was a dress I wore often that summer while on Paros. And, being in the prime time of my menopause, I really suffered the heat. That’s why, referring to the song “Jumpin’ Jack Flash“, I embroidered the phrase “Jumping Hot Flash” onto the dress.
detail of “Jumping Hot Flash” huipil dress
The Rolling Stones logo was designed by John Pasche in 1970 but, despite the fact that it is one of the most successful logos ever designed, Pasche received only £50 for his efforts.
The logo represents a mix of Mick’s mouth and the tongue of the Hindu goddess Kali….I wonder if Stefani knows this.
Kali is worshipped as the destroyer of evil and as a compassionate mother.
another detail of “Jumping Hot Flash” huipil dress
Anyway, my “Jumping Hot Flash” huipil dress was made using not only the Rolling Stones t-shirt, but an old gypsy-like cotton skirt as well. The skirt was pretty worn and had to be patched making it even better. Some of the original sequins were missing but that’s not a problem as one can easily make their own (see link below).
and yet another detail of “Jumping Hot Flash” huipil dress
Recycle to make sequins: earrings made from plastic bottle sequins + hole punchers that can be used to make sequins +
bracelet made from plastic bottle sequins by Aneta
p.s. I’ve never been a big Foo Fighters Fan but DAVE GROHL is sheer animation! Loved his duet with the Stones: ROLLING STONES JOINED BY DAVE GROHL AT ANAHEIM CONCERT…maybe because he’s a Capricorn like me?
Recently, I discovered the delightful work of Marisa Ramirez. It is so happy and playful that I asked Marisa if she would write something about herself and her work for my blog. Fortunately, Marisa accepted but she writes in Spanish so I had to translate. Unfortunately, my Spanish is very, very folkloristic. But the general idea is there “subtitled” with fotos. Here’s her story:
My name is Marisa. I’m married, have 2 children and live in Girona. One of my great passions is art. Via my restless studies regarding current artistic creation, I came across the work of Cynthia Korzekwa and felt a kinship with her way of making. So I am happy that she asked me to write about my work and the sentiments behind it.
bracelets
Since childhood, I have lived surrounded by relatives who enjoyed working with their hands using different materials and different techniques, guided only by intuition, to create precious and unique works that, contemplating them, gave me access to their souls. Their world, concentrated in their hands, seemed to be converted into a sea of tight spots, a railway station model, an embroidery of flowers, a blanket, a sweater …. With this background, I learned as a child to be able to express a part of my interior, to translate this reality using yarns, fabrics, paper. Furthermore, the exercise was comforting, pleasant, intimate and, recognized by my surroundings, allowed me to feel connected to what I loved.¡Redondo!
brooch
Over the years, there have been times when I have been less active than other times depending upon other vital situations in my life that demanded my attention. Now my creative output has grown continuously giving me great serenity, pleasure and joy. I have so much fun working that the joy and love that it brings makes me feel very connected to the Wholeness. I even dare to show my work to others! I work whenever I can even if I only have five minutes to spare. As I have a husband, two kids, a house, a profession and space necessary for my spiritual evolution techniques, my time is limited. To compensate, I began making works that are small in format. But I’m always willing to dedicate even a few minutes in order to finish one of the many pieces that I have on hand.
brooches
In recent times, I especially enjoy crocheting. I make acessories that I call soft jewelry as well as small objects or sculptures that are also soft. But for some reason, I can not knit, draw or paint. I work without schemes, patterns or preconceived ideas. I reach into my stash boxes and feel, touch, and look at my tools, threads, buttons, beads, wool, ribbons, stones, shells. Then something inside of me gets activated, my hands move, my thoughts drop, everything flows and I’m happy, knowing that I’m in my essence. I have much material that I have accumulated over the years– parts, objects, fiber, papers. I find them, buy them or they are given to me. I look at them and then, at some unexpected moment, I will find the piece necessary to finish a work. In this sense, I feel very comfortable with art movements related to the hand-made, recycled materials and outsider art.
necklace made from earphones
In recent years, thanks to internet, I have learned about authors and free-thinking artists who are far away from conventional modern art circuits. I’m in debted to them for having learned a “skill” and for having strengthened confidence in myself. I could sum it up using the phrase of an author I found on Cynthia’s blog: “Creating is the capacity to give a new identity, new colors, new soul to every object we see around us. It is a capacity that all humans have but that few recognize. It is a primary need not given consideration.” Alida Mazzaro
Marisa Ramirez
brooch
soft sculpture
bracelet
brooch
brooch
brooch
Dr Brian O’Leary, physics professor, astronaut and founding president of the New Energy Movement, made this claim a few months before his death: aliens have been trying to contact us for a very long time.
Well, one may wonder, just why do they want to contact us? The reasons may be many but here’s one to take into consideration: they are tired of our space trash and want us to stop throwing our junk on their roads.
Not happy enough with junking up our own planet, we are throwing trash into space as well. Space debris is becoming a big problem. Scientists are now asking what would happen if debris collided with satellites or other debris?
One Growing Threat of Space Debris is that it will eventually fall back down on us as has already happened in the past. In 1997, a woman in Turley, Oklahoma was struck with some space junk later identified as a Delta 2 booster reentering into the Earth’s atmosphere. Luckily, she was not severly hurt.
So, advice from Bunny: Watch for falling objects!
Mending is a philosophy. And a measurement of value. If something must be mended, it means it has been used, thus is useful. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to look at much of what we own as being something disposable. We show no affection for what we have and quite easily throw things away when they become obsolete or broken. Or simply no longer interesting to us. And it seems as if we’ve transfered this attitude towards people and our society as well.
Reparation is a form of beauty.
Mended Stockings by Dorothea Lange ,Photographer
Mended jumper and tom of holland
The Visible Mending Programme: making and re-making
Repairs at The Street of Gold
Even better would be to look at mending as a way of creating…
YOU MUST SEE THIS! Colourful Lamps Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles…In the Summer of 2011, industrial designer Alvaro Catalán de Ocón travelled to Colombia, to be part of a project spearheaded by psychologist and activist Hélène Le Drogou, focusing on the plastic waste that is contaminating the Colombian Amazon and the reuse of discarded PET bottles. Combining local resources with ancient artisan textile techniques Alvaro transformed mass produced objects with a short and specific lifespan into one of a kind functional products.
It is also a tutorial as to how to make these fantastic lamps from PET bottles.
Tin Box Repair:I loved this repair on some doors in the South of France, and more of these later as it had many beautiful repairs.
Flattery… flattened objects
Repaired drainpipe, Jaap van der Feer.
At Remarkable Repairs, We received over 60 entries from all over the world in our Most Remarkable Repair Contest. They are all listed here. Do find yourself inspired by these clever repairs and pick your favourite.
Sunday 30 August, during the last day of Platform21 = Repairing, we announced who made the most remarkable repair according to our jury.
REPAIR IS BEAUTIFUL began with the idea of solving frustration. A broken object delivers frustration because it doesn’t achieve its functionality, but the same principle applies to a broken system that caused the financial crisis, which has affected our lives since 2008.
Repaired wooden scoop via Mondays but, unfortunately, with no reference to its origin
Martin Margiela’s broken porcelain-plate necklace
OOPS!…When I unpacked the bag of broken bits, only one plate had survived – my W H Auden poem plate – more of which later. But on seeing my pile of broken crocks the group became animated, they fell on the pieces re-arranging back into plates and all said they preferred them broken, because now I have proper mending to consider not just simulated, contrived and controlled versions.
Lego bricks used to repair crumbling walls
+ another Lego mended wall
Mended screen, This week’s post looks at things broken, repaired and/or mended and the beauty of such.
Still more: Nina Katchadourian: The Mended Spiderweb Series + Reduce, Reuse, Repair
+ Mending socks…. Blah! +
Previous related ART FOR HOUSWIVES posts: Mend & Repair + Mending as a form of Aesthetics.
P.S. Thanks to Laurie for this link: Mended Trash Bin!
Pull Up A Chair then Fix It + More + Modernist makeshift chairs, afghanistan + Makeshift mobile food cart.
P.P.S. To Mend
© Cynthia Korzekwa 2013
The Narrative Within 