Series 6, Pie 62
4″ Cherry Pie
Hand sculpted, hand painted vulva art surrounded with spiral border
The reference photo was submitted via my website model page. I am honored that she allowed me to use her photo to create this art to share with you.
“Naked bodies were forbidden in my house growing up. Once, as a child, I walked in on my mother changing her bra. She quickly covered up and told me to leave. Even as I started menstruating, she handed me a sanitary belt and pads – I figured it out from the packaging.
As a teenager, my visual references for genitalia came from “classic” adult films like “In the Realm of the Senses”- I felt no embarrassment. However, I never took a focused look at my own vulva in a mirror- not in puberty, not during my first sexual explorations, not even before, during or after birthing a baby, until I was into middle age. By then I had read quite a bit about exploring one’s body, the idea that every vulva was as unique as a thumbprint, that every body was beautiful.
Discovering the term “anasyrma” – the act of displaying a vulva for show of power, connection to rituals, fertility, reminder of life origin and the erotic, I found connections to rituals, mythology, art and architecture Inspired as a visual artist I began to work in clay, incorporating vulvas into teapots, vessels, bowls, sculptures and creating small shrines to the power of the vulva.” ~ @karen.karuza
Model for Pies in the Window
This project wouldn’t be possible without the lovely people who share their stories and images with me and I cannot thank them enough for participating.
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