Art Remembers Us

On By ResaIn Street Art

Hosted by Dan Anton, the Fourth Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge began on May 1st. and runs the entire month of May. 

You pick one of the submitted door photos, and write to it. I chose the image above, by Teagan R. Geneviene.

I’m not a writer, but Dan said he was open to whatever creative inspiration I came up with . I decided on a triple crown event.

One, make a Barbie Art Gown to go with Teagan’s image. Art Gowns are always made from textile trash, old clothes, curtains, NOS and anything headed for landfill. They are completely sewn by hand.

Two, photography – a fashion shoot of said Art Gown.

Three, writing. “Art Remembers Us”.

I came up with this phrase during an interview on a Tea, Toast and Trivia podcast. The host, Rebecca Budd asked me – Why is art important? I answered – Because “art remembers us”. As far as I know, it’s original.

Barbie dreams of the Venetian Ball

Rebecca was Teagan’s guest for an interview recently. Click on the pic above, and go to the interview.

Should you like to take part in the challenge, or simply want to read one of the many fabulous entries, just click on the pic above!

Cheers & thank you’s to Dan for creating and hosting this fab event!

  • Art Remembers Us
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149 thoughts on “Art Remembers Us”

  1. Oh, I remember that phrase from Rebecca’s TT&T and I love it, as I love you Barbie Art Gown and photography. You are amazing, my dahling friend and I so admire you!
    Love and hugs and ….slobberies from you know who!
    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

    1. Thank you dahling!
      I started this project prior to Jeep’s illness. Creativity helps pace me.
      You are amazing, too! I can hardly wait to see the new smart home you are building.
      What a great project.
      xoxoxoxo🧽🧽🧽🧽xoxoxoxo🧽🧽🧽🧽

      1. Creativity always works wonders!
        I don’t know about “smart” but I sure am looking forward to seeing the first results of my design! I hope I haven’t created a monster!
        I’m over my head, honestly!
        🙄
        ❤️😘❤️😘❤️

        1. LOL… created a monster… still laughing!
          I’m sure it will be wonderful!
          ❤️😘❤️😘❤️❤️😘❤️😘❤️❤️😘❤️😘❤️❤️😘❤️😘❤️

          1. I started off full of ideas and in the process I found out all the details [or not so details] about building a home that I truly wonder how it will turn out! A ‘minor’ detail is I’m having no help from any constructor / architect / engineer etc, which makes my anxiety even worse! At least, I’ll know who to blame! 🤣🤪🤣

    1. Thanks Dave!
      Rebecca brought that phrase out of me.
      It was fun making Barbie’s gown, although I do wonder about people who make their lives about creating miniatures.
      It’s all so finicky.

      1. Rebecca is great at drawing great things out of people. 🙂

        And, yes, Barbie and the creating of miniatures evoke the proverbial mixed feelings.

        1. You know, Barbie is 65 this year. 💃🏽
          She hasn’t aged a bit, and she still can’t stand on her own 2 feet. That’s my main pain about Barbie.
          Why did they not make the doll so she can stand up?

    1. Thank you, Robbie!

      Teagan’s collage image is evocative. This is the first Barbie gown I’ve made in 5 years, since she turned 60.

      I’m happy to participate in this challenge. Good thing Dan said it was okay, as I’m not a writer. 🌺💃🏽

        1. Oh wow!
          It is so cool that you have a doll collection.
          The only thing I collect is plants. I have about 60. I have a small book collection, too.
          Some people are afraid of dolls, which I find interesting. 🪆
          Yes, Teagan’s image is fabulous! 🎭

  6. I remember that line from your interview, too. The gown is fabulous. My kids loved their Barbies (each had a name and story). They would have had so much fun with your art gown Barbie.

    1. Thanks Merril!

      It’s so neat that your kids individualized their Barbies. You were a cool mom, to foster that creativity.

      I made Barbie an Art Gown out of a vintage Schiaparelli tie 5 years ago when she turned 60. This worked out nice for her 65th.

      Teagan’s image was inspiring!

      1. You’re welcome, Resa. Our kids have always been very creative. They made dolls and families out of everything–chopsticks, seashells, paper dolls from magazines. . . .

        That did work out for her 65th!

  7. Great phrase. And it is also very literal – we know more about any given society because of their Art than any of their official documents. Documents lie. Art tells us who the people who created it and who appreciated it were/are and the environment in which they worked. Art remembers us…

    Very cleaver to recreate the photo in your own style with a Barbie sized Art Gown. Love it.

    1. I completely agree!

      Documents have always been able to be false, altered, destroyed and rewritten, as in rewriting history.

      Art, in the form of creative writing is some what different. I’m thinking of the history Shakespeare, Dickens and the likes left us.

      I’ve been wondering about AI art. Will that art remember us?

      It’s a good thing artists continue to draw and paint without AI.

      I’m not knocking progress, I just question it. It has helped us, ie: medicine & ambulances to get us to the hospital in time, the convenience of fast food and plastics.

      The rub lies in high medical bills that rob some folks of life savings, fossil fuel pollution, bad health from bad diet (feeds the medical industry well though) and plastic pollution. Pollution has killed and will kill many species. We shouldn’t fool ourselves . We are on the “Dead Pool” list.

      OH…yeah -thanks about the Barbie Art Gown. It feels great to use up old stuff, and make beauty.

      NOW, to add excitement to this fab conversation/comments box communication, I’m going to the AGO on Tuesday.

      There’s an exhibit of paintings done by women from 1400-1800.

      YAHOO! https://ago.ca/exhibitions/making-her-mark-history-women-artists-europe-1400-1800

      1. I wasn’t just thinking about the falsifying of records, but the records themselves. You can’t tell the tone of a people by those cold documents. If Art is cold, there is a reason!
        That exhibit sounds wonderful. Society has tended to overlook female artists, so I am glad that we are beginning to appreciate some of those bold pioneers. I’m sure you’ll have a great time! (Note to self – it has been too long since I’ve been to the Fine Arts Museum in Boston – I need to go soon)

        1. True! Who knows what was what when, and who wrote what for posterity.

          Oh wow! I’ve heard wonderful things about the Fine Arts Museum in Boston. How far away is it from you?
          Actually from what I’ve been told, Boston has a lot of private galleries as well, all top notch.
          YES, go!

          1. It’s a little over an hour. Well, I have to use the subway, which can be a pain. And there are a few excellent small galleries. I haven’t been to them all. Actually, the last museum I was at was Cleveland back in November. They actually have a pretty good one, though I like Boston better.

            1. An hour…not bad! However, I know what you mean about the subway.
              The subway here is nuts!
              I wear a mask on the subway. I did even prior to covid.
              People pushing, shoving and hacking randomly into the air…yuck.
              I do avoid the subway.
              The above ground street car system here is pretty great.

              1. Actually, from my house to standing in the museum might be closer to 2 hours, but still worth it.
                Boston’s subway system isn’t terrible, but part of the ride is on the Green Line, which is just that, packed shoulder to shoulder and yuck…
                Above ground are buses (I don’t know the system at all(, taxis (done them, but only when with people who refused the subway) and Uber – haven’t done in Boston. And walk – if I missed just the Green Line, it would be well over an hour to walk to the MoFA.

    1. Yay! Thank you dear John!

      It’s my first WP challenge. It came at a good time.

      I don’t know what I’d do without being able to be creative. I am a fortunate one.

      🎨𝕩 🐂 🐂 🎨𝕩

  9. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

    Wow! Barbie gets an Art Gown. That is super cool. Beautiful gown for a lovely Barbie.

    1. Thank you, Brad! As Teagan said, I wrote with needle and thread.

      Yes, the photo shoot was fun, and the model never complained once!

  16. I adore what you’ve e done here ! Barbie is perpetual and so are your gorgeous creations, it’s only natural they should find one another. Thank you for the uplifting beautiful art and words dear Meece.
    xo🐭🐭xo

    1. Thank you dear Meece #1!
      What a lovely comment this is.
      Yes, Barbie is 65 this year, and you are right, ageless.
      Good ol ‘art of all and any ilk. Where would we be without it?
      xo🐭🐭xo

        1. Ahh, the Barbie movie. I haven’t seen it, yet!
          I should be able to check it out soon. I think I saw it on my free movies channel.
          However, it’s EMMY season again & there’s a lot of shows I need to watch at least 1 episode of.
          Nominating begins in about a month. Yikes!
          xoxoxo

          1. I watch a few of the new movies, Barbie was one. I also watched Mary and George…👎.
            Most of them are from a few years back. You need to get busy watching. 🤔
            xoxoxo

                1. We’d have fun! We could trash talk the rotten productions.
                  The band is downstairs! We can share our popcorn with them.
                  xoxoxo

                    1. I’m sure they’d love some of your Godivas!
                      Myself, I’d like to throw popcorn at one particular bassist. Ah, he’d probably just eat it! 😂!
                      He’s actually a good player, but he hogs the sound.
                      Hey, back to black with my Amy drawing. I had a good night last night. So, onward to tonight!
                      xoxoxo

                    9. Sent Amy update!!! Hopefully will finish in a coupe more nights.
                      Off to the art gallery. OH…LANGUISH not ANGUISH (you’ll see in the mail!) lololol… auto correct gets jiggy again!

  17. Resa – this is a stellar submission – a triple crown event!!! WOW As always, you bring grace, elegance and joy to everything you do. Barbie’s gown was spectacular and the Fashion shoot was professionally captured. (Red has always been my most favourite colour) I have “Art Remembers Us” on my computer screen. I get goosebumps every time I read these words. Thank you for being a guest on TTT and sharing your knowledge, experience and wisdom.

    Dan – thank you for hosting the Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge. Teagan – there are so many stories embedded in your image.

    1. Hello Rebecca!

      Yes, a triple crown event is a big deal. A lot of joy was had in answering the call of this doors challenge.

      How cool that you have “Art Remembers Us” on your screen. I am honoured and humbled.

      On Tuesday I’m off to the AGO to see some art remembering some amazing female artists from 1400-1800. Excited!

      The arts, all of them, are for as long as humans have been and will be here part of our hearts’ beats.

      Hugs!

    2. Rebecca, it is truly my pleasure to host this writing challenge. I am amazed both by the images people capture/create and share for inspiration, and the amazing creative contributions inspired by those images.

  19. Resa, this is a fantastic contribution to the writing challenge. I love it! A Triple Crown winner, which is very rare. This was so well done. I am amazed by the Barbie Art Gown – it’s simply beautiful. Thank you so much for joining the challenge and sharing your talent with us.

    1. Dan, it’s been my pleasure. It still is as I continue to read submissions.
      I don’t have time for challenges by and large, but this one was timely.
      As long as I can utilize any of the arts, I’ll try to come back for next year’s!
      Thank you!

  20. Wow, Resa! You wrote with your needle and thread! Barbie is ready for Carnival. I love it. I’m honored that my image collage inspired you.

    I loved your quotable quote. That deserves to be… well remembered. Maybe it can be a banner on your blog or something. ❤ Big hugs.

    1. Yes…. with my needle and thread. You put it into words.
      It was so much fun designing from your image.
      I’m using “Art Remembers Us” as a tagline for my blog, with “Luxuriating in the arts”.
      I like your idea of a banner. I’ll design one.
      Big Hugs back you you! 🌟

        1. Teagan,

          When I finished the waistband on the skirt, I told Norm I could have made a regular sized human waistband in the same amount of time.

          Makes me wonder about people who devote their lives to building miniatures.

          hugs!!

          1. I am a woodworker, so I get a lot of catalogs for tools. There are entire stores and vendors devoted to miniature tools. Everything I have in my shop can be purchased in miniature for working with micro-sized pieces. I have several that my wife bought me for display, but I’ve used some in odd situations. I’m sure it takes as much time as making full-sized items.

  21. Art remembers us and also blows the power of creation into our souls! Your interaction with Teagan is marvellous; thanks both!
    Of course, I am somewhat familiar with Dan Anton’s fascinating works through Teagan. Great job!🤙🖖🦋🌟💖

  22. I would have loved this Barbie as a girl! The dress is lovely, with great inspiration. I am thinking I would have named her “Dutchess” and twirl her around my bedroom as a kid 🙂

    1. Yes, Barbie is a doll to be reckoned with. I enjoyed making the gown. I got to sit in bed with my baby Jeep and make it. xxx

  24. Hi Resa! What a fantastic post and great door photo choice! I LOVE the Barbie art gown, so gorgeous and opulent. The quote ‘art remembers us’ is so beautifully poetic… I feel inspired!

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  26. What a stunning response to Dan’s challenge, Resa! Your Barbie Art Gown is gorgeous, and I wish I had had one of your creations for my Barbies when I was a little girl. 🙂 And I love your quote! Superb!

    Fabulous post, Resa, and you are amazing! ❤️🌺🎉

    1. I’ve had her since around 1990. There was a collection of Rock’n’Roll Barbies out for several years. My man had a band, and I bought her kind of like … for a joke or fun.
      Now I can make her gowns!

  28. You are such a multi-talented creative Resa. I love the stories you create to go with your art, your reviews and your designs. What a fantastic replication you made of the gown in the picture. But, I am so not surprised. 🙂 ❤ xoxo

    1. Thank you, Debby!

      This is a lovely comment.

      It was a joy making Barbie’s gown. Sewing is meditative.

      Sending love! x💖🌟❦o

  30. I love your creative take, Resa. Barbi never looked so glamorous. And I remember when you coined the phrase “art remembers us.” It’s beautiful and worth some contemplation as we create and admire the creations of others. Hugs.

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