Sat Jan 11, 2020, 04:23 PM
lunatica (51,427 posts)
A feminist painting from the heart of the 1980s
It was during the time when women were waking up to the possibilities of our potential. When the outer societal struggle that had gone on for years was beginning to be internalized. Gloria Steinem later wrote about that time as the time of the kitchen table discussions when, after rebelling outwardly against entrenched chauvinism, women were discovering ourselves and struggling to define what that meant. I painted this to explore the process within each woman to find her true self, using the Moon and the female figure as symbolism for the mystery of the inner world within each of us. A mystery even to ourselves.
![]() Edited to add that the emphasis was never about being anti men even though I use the word chauvinist. Most men were not that way. It was about being pro women.
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14 replies, 1188 views
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Author | Time | Post |
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lunatica | Jan 2020 | OP |
CaliforniaPeggy | Jan 2020 | #1 | |
lunatica | Jan 2020 | #2 | |
Tumbulu | Jan 2020 | #3 | |
FM123 | Jan 2020 | #4 | |
MontanaMama | Jan 2020 | #5 | |
lunatica | Jan 2020 | #6 | |
MontanaMama | Jan 2020 | #7 | |
lunatica | Jan 2020 | #8 | |
MontanaMama | Jan 2020 | #9 | |
lunatica | Jan 2020 | #10 | |
femmedem | Jan 2020 | #11 | |
lunatica | Jan 2020 | #12 | |
bif | Jan 2020 | #13 | |
lunatica | Jan 2020 | #14 |
Response to lunatica (Original post)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 04:29 PM
CaliforniaPeggy (135,669 posts)
1. This photo speaks to me, my dear lunatica!
And it's gorgeous besides.
Beautiful and so meaningful! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Response to CaliforniaPeggy (Reply #1)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 04:35 PM
lunatica (51,427 posts)
2. Thank you dear CaliforniaPeggy
I really wanted to express something universal because I felt that my own internal struggle was something we were all going through.
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Response to lunatica (Original post)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 04:39 PM
Tumbulu (5,303 posts)
3. So beautiful!
Thank you for sharing it.
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Response to lunatica (Original post)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 04:48 PM
FM123 (8,607 posts)
4. Beautiful. In every way.
Response to lunatica (Original post)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 05:02 PM
MontanaMama (16,143 posts)
5. Powerful.
Isn’t it a shame that being pro-woman is so often seen as anti-male? I certainly don’t see it that way.
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Response to MontanaMama (Reply #5)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 05:07 PM
lunatica (51,427 posts)
6. Or that being a strong woman is seen as a bad trait
It’s so obvious now that women are perceived as being a threat to men. If they only knew that joining forces will be what makes us all stronger.
It mystifies me that there is such a thing as ‘the women’s vote’ as something exclusive to women. |
Response to lunatica (Reply #6)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 05:49 PM
MontanaMama (16,143 posts)
7. Yes.
My 14 year old son recently said that he didn’t know what the big deal was about having a woman president....he said “mama, you run a business, take care of all of us at home, you always know where everything is, you pay the bills, make lunches and dinners and make sure we all have what we need every day. My friend’s moms do that stuff too. Moms would be the best presidents”. No kidding!
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Response to MontanaMama (Reply #7)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 05:58 PM
lunatica (51,427 posts)
8. My son told me that too
The 1980s were his teen years and he insisted sincerely that the world would be better off if women ran it. Not just to me but I overheard him saying similar things to his friends. Once I overheard him telling his friends that if they wanted to know something they should ask their mothers.
When he died 5 years ago a group of his women friends who knew him as far back as high school told me that he was the most open minded and tolerant person, not just man, that they knew. That he accepted people the way they are. It was wonderful to hear that. |
Response to lunatica (Reply #8)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 06:08 PM
MontanaMama (16,143 posts)
9. You lost your son?
I didn’t know. I’m very sorry lunatica. To hear what he meant to others...what a gift during such deep pain.
I had my son when I was 41. It has been my goal to raise a kind, gentle man who drew his strength from lifting others up. When good men join with women, like you said, we’re all stronger and better for it. ![]() |
Response to MontanaMama (Reply #9)
Sat Jan 11, 2020, 06:13 PM
lunatica (51,427 posts)
10. Thank you
He was the light of my life and I feel I was lucky to have him. I was very proud of him for being so kind hearted. He loved animals with a passion, and they loved him back. Just knowing that someone was cruel to animals enraged him. He had no tolerance whatsoever for them.
Sometime I’ll post a portrait drawing of him that I did when he was 15. |
Response to lunatica (Reply #8)
Mon Jan 13, 2020, 10:28 PM
femmedem (5,390 posts)
11. I'm so sorry to hear you lost your son. So sorry.
I don't know what to say, except maybe that I've felt like you are like a mother to the people in this group, always supportive and helping us all to see and realize our potential.
Your painting from the 80's still speaks to us, full of soul. |
Response to femmedem (Reply #11)
Mon Jan 13, 2020, 11:08 PM
lunatica (51,427 posts)
12. Thank you
Sometime soon I’ll post the drawing portrait of him that I did when he was 15 years old. He was the light and the love of my life. He still is, actually, because he’s always on my mind, though thankfully mostly in the good memories, the warm and comforting ones. I was lucky to be his mom.
I’m glad if my mini critiques are helpful and appreciated. I know how important it is to get positive and constructive feedback, and the best way is to tell the artist what I see and how it makes me react. Sometimes that surprises the artist because we all know the artist is the last person to know what their art says to others! |
Response to lunatica (Original post)
Tue Jan 14, 2020, 02:17 PM
bif (18,768 posts)
13. Very nice
I love the composition. And your use of colors. very dramatic.
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