Women have power - 2025 03 07

 

I learned a new word last night at Drawing Together - horror vacui, or kenophobia - refers to a phenomenon in which the entire surface of a space or artwork is filled with detail and content, leaving no empty space https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_vacui_(art). The underlying philosophical principle is based on the idea that 'nature abors a vacuum'. Thus, empty space in a drawing or a manuscript goes against nature. 

Alison was reminded of horror vacui when I showed the drawing I had been working on - an early exploration in using a circular frame for working up a step pattern. 

There were four of us last evening drawing at the dining table. We each had our own sources of inspiration for our drawing projects: medieval art, pet bunnies, scenes from a movie, and celtic design. 

We listened to a powerful recording of Alexandra Olasavsky's song, 'What Happens When a Woman' has power. I had heard a rendition the night before at Vancouver Folk Song Society evening celebrating women and International Women's Day coming up on Saturday, March 8. 

https://youtu.be/5mQuF4Qwjq4?si=Pe6hX7TycgmtAr9o

I got a start on this radiating structure of concentric circles providing an armature for arching step patterns. I started with my long unused compass and protractor set. A simple mathematical analysis of the space. Measured radiating circles. I do love numbers and mathematics.

I have this theory that women were not always so much smaller or weaker than men. In times before the evolution of agriculture, government, wars and patriarchy, women and men were more evenly matched for size and strength. There are graves of women warrior leaders. There are stories of armies of women completing missions of conquest. Even in modern, post-patriarchy times, there are plenty of examples of women's strength that show our ingenuity, endurance, stamina, and power. 

It is International Women's Day tomorrow. The rights of women are under threat as patriarchal social systems collapse under the internal self-destruction inherent in philosophies of dominance and subjugation. We are in a state of rolling catastrophic system collapse as the combined failure of patriarchy, capitalism and theocracy goes through extinction burst. 

Now is the time for women to stand strong, to hold the ground they have gained for self-determination and autonomy. When we hold fast through these calamitous times, we will be in good shape to rebuild a new vision of society. Our new vision can draw on our collective experiences and strengths accumulated over 450,000 years of homo sapien sapien existence. We can take what we need and leave our failed experiments to turn to dust and then garden soil.

The sun will continue to shine, the moon will continue to rise. We will continue to eat, sleep and love. We will continue to work for the good of all concerned. 

In fact, I argue nature does not abhor a vaccum. Nature is opportunistic and pragmatic. Nature will grow where there are conditions to sustain life. The conditions that sustain life are constantly evolving and emerging. Even as we grieve the loss of life in one relationship or habitat, we can count on another emerging, sometimes, often, surprising us to adapt and gain new insight into the complexities of life on earth, humanity, family, and creative work.

This radiating structure, with geometric precision and intuitive ink tints, will evolve as I add layers of drawing to it. It may turn out that I will leave it at some point because it's work is done. It may or may not turn into a drawing that I love, keep and cherish, or a drawing that is not worth keeping. I never know, when I start a drawing, how it is going to turn out. Will I love it immediately? Will it grow on me? Will I cherish it? Or recycle the paper to the worm bin?

We are nature. We are evolving. We are adapting. We are growing in new and surprising ways. We are powerful. We are autonomous. We are competent. For the good of all concerned.