Simone is a mixed media artist living in the Snowy Mountains region of NSW. Her creations emerge from recycled, reclaimed and previously loved goods. Simone is a three-time finalist in Paper on Skin and her entries always have a rich story to tell – much like the discarded materials they are created from!
Resilient Gals – Jean Brown and Meg Gatti pays homage to the resilience of Jean Brown (93) and Meg Gatti (86). Simone has been inspired by their wisdom, their strength, and their zest for life - especially their adaptability in response to COVID.
For example: The coloured panels in the skirt were completed by Jean Brown during lockdown. She coloured in using felt pens with the original being given to her granddaughter as a present. This was copied onto cartridge paper and stripped into lengths and woven. It not only represents Jeans determination to fill in lockdown periods with 'doing' something she loved but the additional mark-making and weaving represents the marks Jean and Meg have made in their lives on family friends and community.
Design Inspiration:
French designer Paul Poiret's Hobble Skirt. The skirt was short-lived because of its constricting line that restricted movement, but it is a perfect analogy for the pandemic.
Dress: The top part of the dress is made from tracing paper that has Jeans poem handwritten on it. I used tracing paper because of its transparency. Jean wrote her poem after strolling through the park using her exercise time during lockdown. She took note of her surroundings and the continuance of nature's daily happenings. And the presence of passing friends, taking joy that they could go for a stroll despite their inability to stop and chat. These observations are
described on the top of the dress and come from the heart. She has opened a window allowing people to see through. The tracing paper replicates this.
The collar: is made from rolled tracing paper in the shape of spikes using quilling techniques. Meg was a member of the Birchfield Harriers in the Midlands UK. A top pentathlon athlete, she was chosen to represent the UK at the 1958 Olympic Games. Meg came from a large working-class family who could not afford athletic spikes; these were bought for her by a fellow athlete who paid for her bus fares to Birchfield to train. She showed true tenacity by travelling 3 days a week after work & taking 2 buses each way. The spikes represent her inner grit and determination. She continues to cycle, lift weights and attend Zumba classes. During lockdown her veranda became her gym!
The Corset: The corset is made from cartridge paper that has been manipulated to show the etched lines in their faces (lifelines) and coated in tar and shellac. It represents the tough outer shell both women exhibit.
Skirt: The skirt has vertical stripes consisting of tracing paper and a collage of artworks created by Jean and myself. They have been printed onto cartridge paper and embellished with line drawings that have been cut and woven using the twill weave and stitched together. This weaving and stitching adds strength to the piece and also emphasises the inner strength we have.
Simone on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/simone_guascoine/