Women, Art and Kitchen Anxiety

    Jackie Tufford is a  beautiful young woman with her own style.  She also has a distinctly vintage air about her, a Mid-Century yet very modern woman adorned with strands of pearls replete with stockings and high heeled, patent leather pumps.  I had the pleasure of hearing her speak recently at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach.  She was the guest speaker at the monthly Art, Women & Culture Art Salon.Jackie's artwork, to quote her website, " balances delicate grace and antiquated feminine styles with suggestions of awkwardness, sexual vulnerability and domesticity to suggest sculptural narratives about the possible unspoken expected social roles of women."  I could leave you to decipher the meaning in those words but better yet I'd rather show you a couple of her creations that speak to the heart of  a woman as she relates to the heart of the home.   I sometimes refer to the intangible elements that are associated with the kitchen.  When we remodel we strive to replicate the positive feelings and associations that are attached to our experiences of the kitchen.  Today, perhaps more than ever, we use our kitchens for multiple tasks and interactions.  Historically the kitchen has been the domain of the woman of the house.  Although that is frequently no longer the case residue lingers.This piece of installation art was created in Jackie's own kitchen.  She is making a statement about being overwhelmed, a woman overwhelmed in her kitchen.  I get that.  However there is more.  To understand this piece is to know that it is also about something called Celiac disease.  Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats.  The installation was created using domestic items such as bed sheets, buttons and thread as well as packaging from gluten free products and rice.  The latter two items are a reference to Celiac.   This second piece definitely elicited a response from this viewer.  Art is supposed to do that, no?  It is entitled "Dinner is Served".  It is all about a very specific kind of kitchen anxiety, that which comes with entertaining!  Ever get "entertaining anxiety"?  I do and you know what?  This made me feel connected to all the other souls out there (probably women) who get it too!  Here I thought I was the only one.  It's made out of plastic plates, utensils table cloths etc.Jackie also has created an amazing collection of dresses made of Romex Wire (another domestic reference) and an intriguing video short called Metanoia which is all about transformation. You can check it all out at her website here.