This artist statement discusses the artist's focus on exploring women's inner lives and femininity through her artwork. She creates installations made up of various media like paintings, fibers, and objects that are fragments coming together to tell a story, similar to how individual life experiences come together to form one's identity. Through learning about influential historical women, she aims to question what it means to be a woman and tackle issues like showing strength versus weakness. Her goal is to deepen understanding of women and the feminine experience.

1. She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
The Tints That Glow
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
BY LORD BYRON 1788–1824

2. • A favorite when a teen,
The poem She Walks in
Beauty by Lord Byron as
backbone
• Fashion and cosmetics
as a forward
The Tints That Glow {
• Revisit femininity like
the poem does –
contrasts and opposites
meet in a woman,
expose that which is
beneath the physical
• Explore connections
between women and
objects of use/
importance/ meaning
• Create a different type
of historical study –
women juxtaposed to
their things

3. ARTIST STATEMENT
Growing up in the 1970s with parents emerging from the unfolding equal rights movement, Women Who Inspire Me
I enjoyed many freedoms that females before me were not able to enjoy or discover. One such,
seemingly minor liberty was toy selection; my parents did not pressure me in my preference. These women, with an internal
Both the garbage truck and the doll were acceptable options. So I determined that Charlie’s power and drive, help
Angel Dolls were more appealing than Barbie Dolls. Always stylish and chic, the Angels were strengthen me with the
knowledge and discovery of their
beauty and brains wrapped in one package. They seemed to have potential to participate in
bravery, courage, and steadfast
more activities; fun activities expanding their horizons and working with boys. In later years as a
devotion to live their lives by
teen, the sculptures of Rodin and the poetry of Lord Byron touched me deeply. The romanticism their terms while in the pursuit
attracted me. As did the poem “She Walks in Beauty”. Always one of my favorites, yet, re- of a goal.
visiting the poem today, it takes on new meaning about the feminine. Contrasts, opposites meet
in this woman and the femininity that is beneath the physical is highlighted. Today, I enjoy Alice Paul
dressing up, adorning myself with makeup and consider myself exceptionally feminine and I Artemisia Gentileschi
equally appreciate a challenge in the pursuit of knowledge or an ambitious accomplishment. Azar Nafisi
Barbara Streisand
My artwork investigates the internal lives of women. Based upon a foundation exploring Camille Claudel
femininity and its evasive characteristics, the work’s emphasis has unfolded into a deeper Charlie’s Angels
examination of the woman’s pursuit for identity, her journey through life searching for a Clara Schuman
deeper understanding of herself. Interested in the paths of women, it is my goal to deepen Clementina Maude Hawarden
My work is about…
the public's perception of women and the feminine world. Cyndi Lauper
Diana, Princess of Wales
Most of my works at present are installations. They are multifaceted; made up of fragments Elizabeth Tudor
acting as variations upon a theme or alternatives of a singular subject matter. Similar to words Emily Carr
in a sentence, each individual piece in an installation is an essential part to the whole and the Emmeline Pankhurst
totality of the grouping depends upon the relationship between these parts. Much like our
women
George Sands
individual histories, these artworks are carefully layered with meaning through the integration Joan of Arc
of a variety of media – paint and fibers – and items like gloves, lipsticks, and demitasse cups, Josephine Bonaparte
compacts, locks, miniature china plates. Through a study of objects which play roles in The Lady of the Silent Pool
women’s lives, I aim to share a new landscape with viewers about women; a different type of Lysistrata
history about women, their inner worlds when juxtaposed to their things.
and what it means to be
{
Maya Angelou
Natalie Merchant
Traditionally women have been conditioned to not be overly or outwardly emotional or self- Pat Benatar
focused. Etiquette typically has obligated women to calm predictability and societies restricted
her to controlled paths. As modern women recover from these and other cultural stigmata, my
study questions what it means to be a woman, a girl, a female. What are her characteristics?
female…
Pocahontas
The Suffragettes
Sylvia Plath
How much strength and weakness must she show, must she hide? To tackle these questions, I Tori Amos
look to the past for influence and have drawn inspiration from various historical female figures. Virginia Wolfe
It is the woman who chooses to take the path least taken, the path of more resistance, the path Wonder Woman
against the pressures of society who moves me. Empathetic to women who wrestle with the
societal impact of their times, cultures and their individual obstacles; by learning about their Key Words
personalities and stories I am able to better understand the woman’s search for a sense of self. Adornment Cosmetics
I stand in awe of their strength to value their competence and their ability to find confidence to Empowerment Fashion
develop and nurture the expression of these abilities. Femininity Gender roles
Historical-Female-Figure
This is an evolutionary time in our world for women; in addition to the U.S., many countries Identity Image
Reflections Romanticism
abroad are pushing the envelope. The divide between gender roles is increasingly narrowing in
Self Sensuality
business and the home. As women evolve and move forward, I feel strongly that we must not
forget femininity and those influential females that came before. Their victories, no matter

4. • Investigate the
internal lives of
women
• Explore femininity
These works { and its evasive
characteristics
• Examine the
woman’s identity,
her journey
through life, and
her search for a
deeper
understanding of
herself

5. Works that Came Before

6. Fibers and Textiles

7. purple pouches, 2006

8. secrets stolen, 2006

9. wedding dresses; homage
to a young woman drawing, 2006

10. I always thought I could be someone, artemisia, camille, emily 2010

11. I always thought I could be someone, camille detail

12. Paintings and Installations

13. shall I
follow my
heart; for
elizabeth
2001

14. fire in
the night
series
joan
camille
artemisia
2010

15. wounds that never bleed; for diana, complete installation view 1998

16. wounds

17. wounds
that never bleed; for diana, selection installation view 2009

18. • Multifaceted – marring
paintings and objects
• Made up of fragments
• Similar to words in a
sentence, each piece of
Installations { an installation is
essential to the whole
and the relationship
between the parts vital
• Layered with meaning
much like the histories
of our lives
• Integrate a variety of
media and techniques
– paint, fibers, craft,
sculpture

19. memories of ivanhoe, complete installation view 2006

20. memories of ivanhoe, partial installation view 2006

21. memories of ivanhoe, selection installation view 2009

22. ivanhoe details

23. On with the show…
The Tints That Glow

24. preserving traditions, complete installation view 2011

25. preserving traditions, partial installation view 2012

26. preserving traditions, details

27. in the shadow of blue, rendering installation view without shelves 2011

28. in the shadow of blue, installation view with shelves 2012

29. Process and Inspiration

30. in the shadow of blue, in progress

31. in the shadow of blue, baby

32. in the shadow of blue, teen

33. in the shadow of blue, middle-aged adult

34. inspiration
to the beat of my heart I will listen series,
A film by Anne Fontaine
Coco Before Chanel
Coco Chanel
Camille Claudel The Virgin’s Lover
Philippa Gregory
CAMILLE CLAUDEL: A Life (Author)
Odile Ayral-Clause (Author)
Elizabeth Tudor

35. to the beat of my heart I will listen series, 2012
elizabeth; the world on my shoulder
chanel; the lure of the allure
camille; my beautiful secret

36. Lady Clementina Hawarden
you will be deeply loved, inspiration

37. you will be deeply loved, 2012

38. you will be deeply loved, details

39. • Deepen the
public’s perception
of women and the
feminine world
Goals {
• Awaken viewers to
reflect upon the
journeys of women
• Share a new
landscape about
women
• Revitalize
femininity keeping
it alive

40. Clementina Hawarden
Lady
reflections in powder dust, inspiration

41. reflections in powder dust, in progress

42. reflections in powder dust, 2013

43. locks of locks, in progress

44. locks of locks, 2012

45. The Lady and the Unicorn
Tapestries – Musee Cluny,
Paris, France
Little Girls Are Made of Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
Senses Series, 2013 inspiration

46. SIGHT; you can dress me up, in progress

47. SIGHT; you can dress me up, 2013

48. Need to add other senses
with inspiration pics too

50. thank you
{ The Tints That Glow
www.carolinerust.com