re-freshing play

A bright pink dress covered in small red flowers moves rhythmically to the demands of the hula-hoop. This individual act contains a nostalgic cultural memory of childhood play, like the movement of the zoetrope. The dynamic hyper-feminine image connects generations of women. The reference to the historic process of imaging from stitching to pre-cinematic toys recalls various moments in time. The artwork “re-freshing play” brushes up against a feeling of nostalgia while seeking to go beyond just the relationship of youthful memory. How do qualities of child wonderment, discovery, and enthusiasm become part of adult life? Preserving memory is not the aim of the work; rather it is about women’s changing perspectives and perceptions as we age and evolve.

Rachel J.  Siegel
February 2007