Not A Vessel

"Mine" is an anthology of comics and illustrations in support of the Abortion Rights Campaign to Repeal the 8th Amendment. Last week I submitted a piece of work to the anthology.

The Eighth Amendment "criminalises abortion in all cases except where to continue a pregnancy would result in death."* In the eyes of the law, an Irish woman is reduced to a child-bearing vessel. A container. A tupperware box, if you will.

As Sarah Ditum wrote for The Newstatesman: "their governments see them as something less than human." 

(Ditum's article 'The abuse of Irish women can go on no longer - abortion must be legalised' is great and I suggest you read it.)

Work in progress

It was this image of a 'child-bearing vessel' that I wanted to show through my artwork. I decided to go literal with a ship in a bottle battling papercut waves... Perhaps the waves of the Irish Sea that "around 800 Northern Irish women make the journey [across] to England every year"**.

'Not a vessel' has become a popular slogan on placards at protests, and across social media, as anger rises that the women of Ireland are not being afforded basic human rights. The ship's sail serves as its placard... 

(Perhaps now is the time to point out that ships are named after women. Are you tired of this metaphor yet?)

Hand cut pieces that formed the final piece

Across the pond, Republican politicians are sharing outdated views on abortion on almost a daily basis. Meanwhile, Irish women are living under one of the most restrictive abortion regimes in the world.

It is time the women of Ireland were afforded the same rights as other women living in the UK.

It is time to #Repealthe8th Amendment. 
 

Not A Vessel (2016) Copyright Oh Cut It Out

Have you signed the petition?

Until next week...

-Karen


* http://www.abortionrightscampaign.ie/repealthe8th/
** http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2016/03/think-donald-trumps-comments-are-shocking-theyre-law-some-uk-women

The Big Easy

My latest project was a series of New Orleans inspired papercuts...

Papercut #1:

The first piece I cut was intended to look like an intricate back tattoo.

I pulled the circular text from the drum kit at Preservation Hall, a music venue in the heart of the French Quarter "established in 1961 to honor one of America’s truest art forms – Traditional New Orleans Jazz."*

Although Preservation Hall is located on St. Peters Street, 'Rue Bourbon' (also in the French Quarter) seemed more fitting for this papercut, especially in a tattoo-style font.

Papercut #2:

New Orleans infamous ghost stories and witchcraft legends inspired the bridal skulls of my second papercut.

'Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo' on Bourbon Street is named for New Orlean's notorious Voodoo Queen. Here you can stock up on talismans, candles, tarot cards, incense...

The word 'Lafayette' on the top hat was borrowed from the ironwork gates of Lafayette Cemetery. A pair of ironwork gates were also included on papercut #1.
 

Papercut #3:

The final papercut in the series is presented as a beautiful poster. The Big Easy is one of the city's many nicknames...

Inspiration for this piece was taken from the cemeteries of New Orleans, often referred to as 'cities of the dead'. Due to the high water table "departed loved ones are interred above ground"** (Caskets would literally float if buried in a traditional grave.)

The name 'Toussaint' on the central tomb is for Allen Toussaint; the musician, songwriter and influential figure in New Orleans R&B who sadly passed away last year.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this series of papercuts. The New Orleans influence is clear in each piece, and the repetitive floral pattern and tattoo-style font tie the three pieces together.

 

Which papercut is your favourite?

Until next week...

-Karen

* http://preservationhall.com/hall/history/
**http://www.experienceneworleans.com/deadcity.html

Transition

"Here Comes Everyone (HCE) is a quarterly literary magazine of poetry, fiction, articles and artwork based around topical and interesting issues (Colours, Dinosaurs, Prophecy, NHS etc)."*

For the latest issue, HCE asked for submissions interpreting the theme Transition:

- Is change a good thing?

- Have you undergone, or are you undergoing, an external transition?

- Have you undergone, or are you undergoing, an internal transition?

When I hear the word 'transition' I think of gender, seasons (leaves and rebirth), superheroes, and time (aging and the inevitable cycles of life)...

I also think of lunar transitions.

"The progression of one lunar cycle to the next creates a natural and continuing spiral of personal growth and evolutionary opportunity."**

Every month the moon transitions from new to full (as we see it from our vantage point on Earth). I cut the cycle from a single piece of card, with a handful of stars to punctuate it:
 

To add perspective I also papercut a tiny, floral Earth:

I scanned both pieces and added some Photoshop magic... Below is the finished piece that I submitted to Here Comes Everyone:

Lunar Transitions (2016) Copyright Oh Cut It Out

What does the word 'transition' mean to you?

Until next week...

-Karen 

*http://herecomeseveryone.me/about/
**lunarplanner.com

Here Comes Everyone (HCE) is a quarterly literary magazine of poetry, fiction, articles and artwork based around topical and interesting issues (Colours, Dinosaurs, Prophecy, NHS etc.) - See more at: http://herecomeseveryone.me/about/#sthash.CIgttsbh.dpuf

Here Comes Everyone (HCE) is a quarterly literary magazine of poetry, fiction, articles and artwork based around topical and interesting issues (Colours, Dinosaurs, Prophecy, NHS etc.) - See more at: http://herecomeseveryone.me/about/#sthash.CIgttsbh.dpuf