YAYA BOX HISTORY CHAPTER 7
VI. The Letter
When the women had selected their boxes, I sent them a letter to help them with their process. I have included it here.
Dear YaYa Box Women:
My artwork has been concerned all along with the fragmented, survival quality of women’s lives. I am concerned with revising and completing women’s personal and collective histories to heighten their self-esteem, strengthen their sense of identity, and release their personal and collective power.
I became aware sometime last year, through a television movie, of a tradition that involves portraying significant influences from a woman’s life on the outside of a box, and
depicting the essence of the woman (feelings, memories, etc.) on the inside. For months, I have been working on a way to produce a meaningful installation of art based on this
concept. I believe the project that I have described to you on the telephone is important,
meaningful, and significant. The importance, meaning, and significance become more
obvious to me every day – and the process we are all living through since the project began
is the most fascinating, mesmerizing process I have experienced. This is ART!
I imagine you have already done a lot of thinking. I know you have begun sorting and
classifying your thoughts about the project/box. Please read the following material and see
if it helps clarify any gray areas, or it will create many more, and that will be good.
Think about the following:
PEOPLE CARS SHAPES PLACES SCHOOLS
EVENTS COLORS OBJECTS ANIMALS
TOYS SYMBOLS PATTERNS HOUSES
POETRY SONGS MUSIC FLOWERS
Bubble lights on a Christmas tree represent a significant caretaker from my childhood, and
are my visual symbol for her.
A four-poster bed with pineapple carvings on the posts is my grandmother.
The word Shanghai stands for 3+ years of my life, and a myriad of memories – from
devastating to sublime.
Catholicism was an extremely significant part of my childhood, and a church could be that, or a Catholic nun could be my grade school.
Scrap quilts are my favorite grandmother because I long for the quilts she made from my
outgrown clothing. Those beloved quilts have long since disintegrated.
Patterns from clothing, furniture, floors, walls, ceilings, draperies, etc., all stand for people
and places important to me.
The symbols you choose for some experiences may trigger intricate, involved, multisensory memories. They should be chosen with care. You will want to think about whether
to use universal symbols for some things or your own private symbols. I know it has been painful, in part, to take a close look at your life. I admire your willingness and courage to do that. Bear in mind that we would not be who we are today without each of the experiences that have made up our lives. Words could be an important part of your box, or not. It is your choice. When you feel you have exhausted your creativity on your lists, symbols, words, hierarchy of importance (big, small, medium, etc.), contact me to brainstorm about what you have. I will
be happy to help you finish planning how to use your material. Keep in mind you could use collage, paint, glue, woodburning, carving, nailing, stapling, etc., to decorate your boх. Later, after everyone is comfortable with where they are going, we will have a slumber party for everyone to become better acquainted and to commiserate/congratulate each other on our collective journey.
I appreciate all of your efforts more than you know.
I’m glad we’re in this together. (Life, and the Project!
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