Hair 2 Dye 4

The "Salon Series" or "Curl Up and Dye" continues in the tradition of the “memento mori,” while specifically relating to living and dying in America. These graphic paintings mimic a style of beauty shop signage popularized in the 1980's. This series was inspired in part by my fascination with Victorian hairwork wreaths, mementos made entirely of knotted human hair. Hair has so much baggage not to mention biblical power, glam power and visceral power. Before photographs, lovers traded locks of hair as intimate keepsakes. Today the global hair trade is huge. It must be hair's transient connection to the body that begs comparison to our own profound mortality. Each piece in this series is inspired by an actual beauty parlor whose name honors the duality of life and death.

HAIR & BEYOND

SALON SERIES, "HAIR & BEYOND" RHONDA RATRAY 2009, ACRYLIC ON DURALAR, SPARKLE MAGIC BACKGROUND

on view:
Historic Interpretation: Contemporary Artists Interpret the Historic Collection

Osborne-Salata and Gideon Foster Houses

August 15 - October 18, 2009

Opening weekend, August 15, 12 - 7 pm & August 16, 12 - 3 pm
Also on view 1st and 3rd Sundays: September 6 & 20,
October 4 & 18, 12 - 3 pm

Everyone dies, but no one is dead

We arachnid, we resourceful.
For months now I've had hair on the brain... it's alive, its dead it lasts forever, but it falls out. Hair is part of a person, but it isn't. It's renewable...sometimes.
Thinking about this wreath @ the Peabody Historical Society, Peabody , MA. Horseshoe shaped and from across the room this appears to be just dried flowers. It was made in 1857, is a stunning example of "fancywork." "Fancywork " or "hair work" was typically created by women and utilized their own hair or that of a loved one. (Often locks of hair were traded between lovers as a precursor to the photograph.) Also given as mementos. In this case, each flower in this piece represents an individual from the artist's church congregation. The hair is tightly wound and neatly configured into flowers and butterflies. Both beautiful and temporary...

WE TRADE DOLLAR$ 4 AMERO$

Yassy has been a huge inspiration to me! You too can be INSPIRED, visit the image gallery!

MARCH 27 through April 17, 2009
space242boston

When two set out to dine or duel together a third appears--tertium quid, parasite, witness, prophet, escapee. (yay yassy and deathmetal- exorcising!)