Beth Robinson's Strange Dolls | Sculptures that tip toe between the delicate and the grotesque.
A group show where female artists explore parasitic relationships.
The host/parasite relationship in nature is a strange, fascinating one. There are many reasons why this relationship exists, including population control, boosting immune response, aiding decomposition and supporting the food web.
While most parasites do not kill their hosts, what compels those that do?
In our culture, the word "parasite" has a decidedly negative connotation. Though literal parasites are seeking only to live, parasite/host relationships present between humans result in toxic power dynamics, financial instability, breakdowns of bodies and minds, and loss of benefit to both parties over time.
The work in this exhibition was made to explore parasitic relationships in all their forms. Where do we get the energy we need to sustain ourselves? Are those sources sustainable or part of a system that ultimately depletes us?
This group of female artists met over the course of six months to discuss their interpretations of the show concept. Each artist is exploring the theme from her own unique perspective. The work includes depictions of parasites in nature in addition to examinations of family dynamics, childbirth, beauty, sexuality, and dysfunctional relationships in the context of parasitism.
So many thanks to Jaclyn Schmitz Photography and Artfully Wed for including one of my dolls in this gorgeous feature of an alternative wedding. If you are planning a Gothic wedding, this photo series is so inspiring.
Also featured is my partner in crime, Kitty Cake. We have collaborated in the past as "Blood Ties," are already planning to do it again, and she is the woman that has helped me bring my annual Art of Horror event to an entirely new level of awesome. Gorgeous, talented, creative, and driven. She is not a spark – but a volcano.