A hard, metal, cylindrical tea strainer hangs at the end of a thin chain attached to six crocheted rounds forming a flowery medallion with eight petals. It may represent the number of a members in a family. The container full or emptied of what? Memories? A shinny steel, reflective surface against soft crocheted circles - metal and wool, the comfort of family and those close to you. Here, soft does not necessarily represent the feminine and hard not necessarily the masculine, for in this work hard represents stoicism, an ability to endure when times are tough. But what of the strainer, does it speak of the tension and anxiety of family relationships, or intellect drained and filtered through the lens of sorrow? Is it reference to 'the old ball and chain' - the partner hung around ones' neck, a burden perhaps to the male, who, unlike the woman (in the years between 1949 &1961) could and would escape domesticity. The Grand Honor of Domestic Service, Mark's title for this and the previous artwork is understood here as time devoted to family, but never recognized. Labors of love - cups of (the old cliche) tea and sympathy around the table where the family gathered, their hopes and sorrows laid bare and sometimes, too, the tears overflowing. The more I think about and view the object, I consider it about Haptics (touch) and the way that objects feel, solicit our remembering. I plan to do my response next week to both this and Mark's earlier artwork and will post here.
Julie, I cannot tell you enough how brilliantly succinct you have been with this latest description!!
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