Labour Portraits at Mildred's Lane


Jaquel Theis: Land Steward; Jeffrey Jenkins Photographer


I had the honor and privilege of being involved in the art direction and styling of a series of 12 labor portraits in collaboration with J. Morgan Puett, Jeffrey Jenkins, Natalie Wilkin, and an incredible group of resident fellows and participants who made invaluable contributions both physically and conceptually.

Elizabeth Crawford & Isobel Lister: Ministry of Comfort; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins


The portraits reflected the various labor practices employed at Mildred's Lane referred to as "Workstyles." 

Grey Rabbit Puett: Fire Master; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins


Cheryl Edwards: Digestion Choreographer; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins


Paul Bartow: Master of Applied Complexity; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins

Rebecca Purcell: Master Hooshress; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins


Each portrait depicted a specific titled practice and included: materials indigenous to Morgan Puett history and Mildred's Lane; a changeable architecture loosely influenced by Crivelli Paintings; elements of 18th C. labor portraits; props reflecting the "workstyle;" and aspects of the sitter's personality.

J. Morgan Puett: Ambassador of Entanglements; Jeffrey Jenkins Photographer

The women's outfits — "Apparatuses" —were designed by J. Morgan Puett and constructed in sections that button together to create a variety of garments. 



Jeffrey Jenkins: Minister of Serial Materialism; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins

Natalie Wilkin: Ambassador of Trans Historical Agency; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins

Mark Dion: Cabinet Minister Peregrinator; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins

Clayton Lewis: Officer of Complexity; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins


Interstitchiaries; Photographer Jeffrey Jenkins



Peculiar Spoils from Recent Haul





I had one of those odd attacks that seem to only happen at multi-dealer antique malls. A brief rift in normal shopping where something takes over me and I find myself buying things I would have never normally purchased let alone even noticed!


The attack happened in the "JAR" booth (dealer tag name) at Coxsackie Antiques Mall. Maybe it was triggered by the collection of bowling themed items at the entrance, or maybe it was due to some unknown coagulative force seeping through the motley assemblage of brick-a-brack — a sticky collective syrup of misfit object souls...



Whatever the reason I found myself completely absorbed by each item housed in this tiny space between a glass case and two shelving units. With determined purpose I took on the task of looking at — and contemplating — absolutely every object in the booth.


As these things go, this acute moment of attraction resulted in many objects being imbued with a kind of magical quality. A tiny china figure took on totemic weight, a decal of salami became retro art of the highest caliber, a blue glass owl seemed to be nothing less than a symbol of the deepest importance, a set of miniature Japanese lacquer bowls filled me with an intense delight.
And... I had to have them all.


Postscript

The blue glass owl proved to be the first  in a series of five owls that randomly popped up during the course of the rest of the day:
#1. The blue glass "JAR booth" owl
#2. Right afterwards I was looking at bird books for Mark Dion, I randomly opened the page on owls
#3. A fake owl perched on a street sign-post, at a cross-road that marked where we got lost that day
#4. Before dinner Jeffrey read a passage from David Sedaris' "Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls"
#5. During dinner we talked about a runcible spoon, and I realized I had learned what this was by reading "The Owl and the Pussycat"

First Test of Head Apparatus for Portrait Project

Several years in concept - I finally started work on a collection of head pieces for my portrait project.
They are reversible; neutrals on one side, black pallet on the other.


For this first trial run I began with a variety of library embellishments in keeping with the #11 persona from Organon 9 Worlds.


Creating a headpiece that combines Victoreana, Geisha, and Italian folk costume. 


And an outfit I cobbled together in 20 minutes...

A Taste of Honey

I recently spent two days in my studio under the blissful tutelage of pure desire.


The result was a collection of ovals, each made from some small scrap of weathered fabric, cardboard, and either a felt or paper backing.


Although the work began spontaneously, it wasn't long before I was collecting a list of connections:

A way to honor cherished bits of fabric
Ideal hoosh items for overhead shots
Symbols of self — the oval is my trademark
Esoteric connection — the amygdala/third eye/philosopher's stone/egg/crucible of life/perfection
Art objects — I feel they fully express everything I would want to say

I know I will return...



Rent Dress Collaboration

Recent collaboration with J. Morgan Puett and the Mildred's Lane Complexity


After digging around in morgan's archive, we came across a vintage slip that struck both Morgan and I as being unusually appealing.


Morgan worked on having the body of the slip reinvented, using antique cotton organdy, while I assembled bodices, using one of a kind lace and crochet appliques, from my library of gathered materials.



Final four dresses available on Morgan's site





http://www.jmorganpuett.com/the-mildred-complexity/#/rent-dress/