3rd Choice: Hollow of the Restless

This project is one of my most recent and came about as a result of a two week period I went through of extreme restlessness, doubt, and questioning. The assignment was to use two or more techniques we had learned in my Intro to Fibers class and make something, anything we wanted. I had started a poem earlier the day we got the assignment and decided to use it for inspiration and create this creature who lives in the Hollow of the Restless biding its time, pondering the mysteries of life, and gathering knowledge from the things it collects or comes into contact with. I learned an immense amount from experimentation, figuring out how to make soft crochet bones and felt teeth. My personal connection to this project is very strong for I feel in a way I am the creature, or the creature lives in the restless part of my mind. I really liked the idea of having a text, in this case a poem to explain the story. I have become more and more interested in poetry and found this to be the perfect opportunity to delve into it. Symbolism also plays a major part in the piece because each part of the piece represents a greater idea or thought. The eyes represent a revelation, a greater sense of seeing that comes from stepping back and truly witnessing the world around you. The dreadlocks reminded me of fire and therefore hatred and passion, two things which always occur and so in the poem no matter how the creature tries to get rid of them, they grow back. The bones each represent different people and their suffering in life, the teeth represent sympathy and a connection to animals. I always find when I look into the eyes of my dog or other pets that they somehow understand what you are thinking and sympathize. Lastly the Octupus is the time keeper, nine tentacles for the nine years the creature must wait to be free from restlessness. As far as the face paint goes I was trying to achieve a tribal feel and chose to create an environment for the creature to live in for the photographs. Like most of my work the color is very important because I feel is adds to the magic of the story, makes it seem more surreal, more enticing and exciting.