NUDGE-SHOVE

Soft Fists (Lola Jovan) oil on paper, 13 x 20

These are unprecedented times.  And I've been struggling for words.

So when artist Helaine Abramson and I collided in a cyber chat about our emotions, frustrations and feelings of powerlessness in these times, something else was born.  The idea of a call and response - the world is calling (shouting, screaming, banging fists on tables) and artists (humans, women, men,) want to respond.  When words fail us, there is art.

Abramson and I stumbled upon a poem from decades ago by Sylvia Plath (Mushrooms), which beautifully gave voice and a loooooooooong trajectory view of women's struggles in the world.  How could it be that here we stood, feeling the need to heave the needles (Plath) and keep moving forward, just as Plath deliciously described so long ago?

Abramson challenged me to channel the poem (and our own feelings) into art.  Art for the sake of expression, without any care for sensibility, marketability or brand.  To push each other to try things we haven't tried, take risks, be bold.  To create an environment between us of growth, power, strength and voice.

NUDGE-SHOVE is a small experiment.

Two artists pushing each other in a tiny, safe environment cocooned within the larger, dangerous environment of the world.  I think we were both surprised by how empowered and edge of the eyeballs we felt in creating the art and in writing the narrative for this experimental show.

Bloodless No More (Helaine Abramson) mixed media mosaic on wood 12 x 12

We haven't solved any of the world's problems here.

But we have found a way to take the chaos of everything out there and use that energy for something else - to connect, inspire, commiserate, encourage, listen and see.  

It is our sincere hope that our art and words will touch you, dear reader.  We hope to hit a nerve, strike a chord, make a little splash.  Maybe, if we're lucky, it will inspire other small experiments in the world - nudging and shoving until our kind multiplies (Plath).

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NUDGE-SHOVE​ is open!  Head over to the show page and take a gander.  We love if you'd linger awhile.  Comments, feedback, questions and all the things are welcome.