Holding Pattern Subject Story

This was fun.

A friend of mine, Bryce Hudson, who is a contemporary artist here in Louisville asked me to model for his latest series, Holding Pattern. He has described the series like this:

My latest series of photo-based prints is entitled Holding Pattern. My subjects are attractive women in their mid 20s to late 30s, and superimposed upon their faces are monochromatic decorative patterns, the combination of which brings to the surface ideas of symmetry, objects of decoration and femininity. This is the start of a much larger body of work that will soon appear in my paintings and ultimately installation work.

Bryce has also talked with me about a common factor with many of the models — they are of the age to marry and/or have children, but most of them have not. I’m at the age when many women are thinking about whether or not to take these steps — a holding pattern of sorts perhaps. For me the decision is made — while I’m married, I’m decidedly child-free and will hold in that pattern forever (or as long as modern pharmaceuticals work).

Bryce will work on this series next month in Beijing while he enjoys a month as an artist-in-residence through NY Arts’s Magazine contemporary art project space, NY Arts Beijing. He’ll finish and exhibit the series while there.

Shooting this photo was interesting — ultimately over my face in the photo will be superimposed a decorative pattern. To sit for the photo shoot I had to remain perfectly aligned and couldn’t move, though the crazy bright (and hot!) lights made me twitchy.

I wondered as Bryce counted back from three (I kept my eyes closed against the light until ’1′) if I would be symmetrical enough for the piece. I’ve read studies that found people’s perception of beauty has an awful lot to do with symmetry. And while I am more concerned that people find me intelligent, compassionate and interesting, I may never outgrow the little girl inside who just wants to be pretty. I can’t particularly tell if my face is symmetrical, but at least with the magic of Photoshop and the touch of an artist that little girl can be satisfied.

Finished!