"Impossible Things"
Materials: Hand-made paper clay from receipts, invoices, bills, and to-do lists of the artist, PVA glue, US $, sewing pins, cardboard, rice paper, dried poppy stems, and ink.
Process...
Submission for: “Sheltering In Place Project”, March 2020
A reflection by Vermont artists and writers’ on time spent during Covid-19
An interactive exhibition contributed to by over 100 Vermont artists and writers. As people walked the path of the different shelters, haiku poetry written about sheltering in place and music were playing in the background. Sculptures all fit the dimensions 6" x 6" x 9" and weighed less than 8 lbs.
News article in the Times Argus newspaper
Monica's Artist Statement for her submission, "Impossible Things"
After the energy it took to stabilize my life at the onset of the pandemic, I had time to take stock of my own situation in relationship to my community and beyond. The pandemic has given me an opportunity to deepen my Zen practice through meditation and artmaking as well as through my role as a yoga teacher. One particular Zen practice has made holding the enormity of our times more accessible, The Four Vows.
The tiny scrolls hanging from the roof of the house sculpture are hand-written in Chinese calligraphy and contain the Zen Buddhist Four Vows. The Four Vows are chanted as a drone to meditate on impossible things. During the pandemic (and often, really) I meditate on equality for all beings. A world where there is no inequality based on race, wealth, education, age, gender, sexual preference, or anything inherent to being human.
The bed of nails is an ancient Hindu yogic practice designed to help one reach beyond dogma, conformity, false truths, and misguided decisions to realize a higher truth.
At the interior of the crumbling façade is money sinking on the bed of nails, not able to get beyond its dogma. The Four Vows hold the space around it to support clarity, strength and persistence to overcome a seemingly impossible vision – that all beings are honored and respected – an idealistic vision not attainable under capitalism.
The Four Vows (New York Zen Center)
Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to save them.
Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to put an end to them.
The Dharmas are boundless; I vow to master them.
The Buddha Way is unattainable; I vow to attain it.
“Sheltering In Place Project” Envisioned And Curated by Hasso Ewing
Hosted by the Highland Center for the Arts
View the artist notebook here
Proceeds from sales of art benefited the Vermont Foodbank
Hosted by the Highland Center for the Arts
View the artist notebook here
Proceeds from sales of art benefited the Vermont Foodbank