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Margaret M. Gamache

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Rags to Riches in Three Generations

Rags to Riches in Three Generations
Rags to Riches in Three Generations

Rags to Riches in Three Generations | Media List


Statement

Margaret M.Gamache

Rags to Riches

In Three Generations

In this sculpture there are three parts, Grandma’s Rags in the Barn open natural 1910. Mother’s Sanitary Napkin with Belts, secretive, hidden in the way back of a dresser draw 1930. Daughter’s Riches, Tampax Pearl, out in the open on top dresser 2012.

When I asked my grandmother what they did when they were menstruating. She told me they used rags and washed, and reused them. They hung and kept them in the barn. It all seemed natural to her. My mother was very secretive about menstruation, until I was 10yrs old when she brought me in her bedroom and said,” when your time comes…???.”.(I really had no Idea, and was somewhat frightened) to a very dark dresser in the closet. Back in the draw were pads, sanitary napkins. She showed me how to use the Belt, and how to get the pad on.

As modern young women, I soon left the pads sanitary napkins, for the revolutionary Tampax, Tampon. Ads on TV and magazines, now exclaimed that women were able to ride a horse, swim, and play tennis. Menstruation was starting to be out in the open, but still a taboo because Women were still unclean, unpredictable, and emotional wrecks. Menstruation as a natural function was a negative, nature must be concord, quieted.

Red paint color used by farmers to paint their barns was made of animal blood mixed with white paint. The red in this, 19”x23”x15”mixed medium sculpture represents the idea of blood. 2012 Sept.