“In the long process of digging down in the heat of
summer, I discovered strength, moderation, and bravery. I no longer felt the
need to ask Mom about the nature of death. I had instead created a deep place
of my own for thinking, and abiding–a place that confirmed my power in old age”-
Cecelia Kane
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The Mother Hole-Proposal Drawing 2012
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Dearest
Readers,
The
quote above is part of my artist statement used as wall text at ATHICA to accompany my
documentary photos of digging “The Mother Hole”, an environmental work performed
in 2012 at The Carving Studio in West Rutland Vermont. Many of you followed my
blog that summer as I described my thoughts and the physical process of seeking
answers to questions of self and death.
Athens Institute for Contemporary Art (ATHICA) in Athens, GA is
currently showing them in The Third
Act, a group exhibition about the final stage of life, running from
January 18-March 2, 2014. In addition, the curator, Lizzie Zucker Saltz
selected 12 of my 60+ self-portraits that also question the meaning of self and
identity.
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| Cecelia in front of the Mother Hole progress pics |
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| Kane-Twelve Self-Portraits from "How Am I Feeling Today?" series |
Below
are my favorite pieces in The Third Act show. At the bottom are the documentary
photos of my 5-week creation of “The Mother Hole”.
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| Malena Bergmann-The Final Hour, a kinetic sculpture with an actual EKG of the artist's step-mother's heartbeat during the last hour of life. |
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Tom Hussey-Reflections-The Scientist, one of 8 photo prints
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| Karen Hymer-from Skin Series-Self Handarm |
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| Ann Rowles with Porosity-crocheted pelvis and spine |
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| Peter Nelson-On Dying-Video of 20 somethings lip synching words of seniors discussing death |
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And here are my Mother Hole Progress Photos :
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| Future Hole Site-Cecelia and Etta James (my dog) |
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| Early Dig |
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| Continuing Down |
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| Dig Site |
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| Testing the branches in the hole |
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| Fashioning the ladder |
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| Close up of lashed rung with double clove hitches and square knots |
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| Close up of stacking pattern of marble shard wall |
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| Building up the wall |
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| Marble lining complete |
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| 14 foot aspen ladder in lower hole |
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| Final Mother Hole in the Field |
