Timing

I made this piece for the current show at Catalyst presented by the Blood Art Archive, 'Cycles: an art show exploring the complexity of menstruation', which opened February 9. The gallery was packed with people for three full hours during the reception. It is quite a powerful show and will be up through Feb 18. Below is my accompanying statement for the catalogue.

Timing (16"x20" acrylic on canvas, wood, glass bowl, candy)

‘Timing' was a theme that came up when thinking about my 25 years of menstruating. The initial wait for the first period, dreaded but expected, then all the waiting that comes after, those early years never knowing when, and more often than not, it was really bad timing. A uterus-twisting nuisance. Yet, it was a reassurance that things were ‘working’ and that I was not pregnant at a time I did not want to be. I didn’t keep close track, it was just ‘that time’ or it wasn’t. Hoping it wouldn’t ruin certain activities. I’d always guess at timing and be relieved at the sight. Years later I still guess but I circle dates and count forwards and backwards. A different kind of timing. Now, I don’t want the blood. It means something different, my heart turned inside out. Month after month and year after year and I see the periods count my life away, egg by egg and drop by drop.