1. PHELAN MEEK Exhibition Proposal  Fertile Ground  Medium: Mixed Media  Size: Varied   Date: 2007-2009

2. Fertile Ground All art is a journey but this show represents the evolution of the self of an artist and a woman. When I started fabricating sculpture, I worked in welded steel. I loved, and still do, the feeling of being able to do anything after learning how to cut and weld steel. The world was at my fingertips. Around the same time this feeling took hold I began studying archeological evidence of woman centered cultures from thousands of years ago. This coupled with my background in psychology led me to imagine the female in a different way. My materials began shifting from steel to resin, plaster and glass and my pieces shifted from demonstrating the archeological woman to examining the female archetype. What did it mean to be a woman? What was the historical basis for womanhood? What were the psychological underpinnings of being female? My research and sense of womanhood historically and to the present was that her primary attribute was being connected to the Earth. Although this connection gave her strength, throughout relatively recent history she had been boxed in by perceptions and misperceptions. As a result women felt themselves fragile and breakable when in fact they were powerful due to their connection with earth, fertility and emotion. Hence, the title, Fertile Ground. The pieces in this proposed show exemplify woman's connection to the earth, how women can turn seeming fragility into strength and how to discover the potency in female sensibility.

3. Sample Artworks

4. Madalena, A Tribute to Ivan Lins Resin, crushed glass, bird nest, tree branches, Australian Banksia pods, encaustic on paper, wood. 33x28x7in., 2009

5. Madalena, A Tribute to Ivan Lins Ivan Lins is a Brazilian singer/composer whose most popular song is called “Madalena.” I love his music so much that I have several of his albums loaded into my mp3 player. One day as I stood in my studio with the mp3 player plugged into my ears, “Madalena” began to play and this piece began to appear in my mind. Lins’ “Madalena” is a love song. My “Madalena” is a love song to the beauty, fragility and strength of woman through her connection to her self and to the Earth.

6. I Long for the Cardinal, Red Resin, crushed glass, found objects, encaustic on paper, window. 24 x 34 in. 2009 Inside View Outside View

7. I Long for the Cardinal, Red After many failed attempts to become pregnant I had reached the end. This was my last time. After the embryo was implanted I stayed in bed for a week thinking this would help the embryo incubate. I was determined. As I looked out the window the following poem came to me: I Long for the Cardinal, Red A menage a trois of mourning doves Fights on the ground amongst the dirt and seeds Finches couple, chickadees acrobat and squirrels somersault on branches But, I long for the Cardinal On the fence across the yard A flash Today Tomorrow? Red (The pregnancy was successful.)

8. Homage to a Fragile Self Resin, crushed glass, photo transfer, holy water fount, wood, paint. 33x28x7in. 2008

9. Homage to a Fragile Self As the torso made of resin and crushed glass came out of the mold I realized that this thing that appeared fragile was in fact strong and hard. This inspired me to create a religious type of reliquary to display the torso as It seemed that the strength inherent in fragility should be honored in a prayerful way. This sense of the strength that comes from being in being in touch with one’s fragility became a central theme in my work after completion of this piece.

10. A Buddha is Born Every Second of Every Day

11. I believe that we all have the capacity for truth and insight but that it is often socialized out of us. This became apparent to me when I would listen to my own child during her early years ( and sometimes now in her adolescence) and be blown away by her perceptions…so much so that at one point I thought that she might be a guru. At 26 months of age she excitedly asked for a paper and pencil because she wanted to write an inspirational story about the meaning of life. I was terrified but in awe and wondered what the future held in store for her. Her musings continued. She talked about what it had been like in the womb and remembered being stuck and that someone had to get her out. These reflections by my two year old led me to respect the truth within.

12. Walkin’ My Vortex Back Home Copper, boots, plaster. 54x15x19in. 2007

13. Walkin’ My Vortex Back Home This set of works focuses on our connection with the universe while at the same time we are connected to the Earth. How better to connect with the Earth than through our feet? “Walkin’ My Vortex Back Home” is one of my favorites because it is whimsical and profound at the same time. It captures the vortex within and without, our relationship with the universe and with ourselves.

14. Family Life Resin, copper, burl cap. 48x24x20in. 2008

15. Family Life Consider the vortex of family life. The whirlwind of activities, emotion and caring. Again, feet as the anchor between the vortex and the Earth.

16. Pied à Terre Burled maple slice, tree bark, Australian Banksia pods, plaster, paint, copper. 25x18x12in. 2008

17. Pied à Terre In French, Pied a Terre means … but it also means “Feet on the Ground.” This piece which utilizes tree bark and Australian Banksia pods as well as burled maple exemplifies our connection with the Earth. We are one with the Earth. We come from the Earth and we go back to the Earth.

18. Feet of Glass, Yet Firmly Planted Resin, crushed glass, burl cap. 8x11x13in. 2008

19. Feet of Glass, Yet Firmly Planted Top View

20. Feet of Glass, Yet Firmly Planted We are fragile, but have a relationship with the Earth. We are grounded but fragile. We exist in relation to the Earth and the universe.