As I pondered this week's Mixed Media Memoirs theme, "If I peeled back the layers," a few images kept recurring...The first was the image of a hermit crab (a recurring theme for me lately). The outer shells that I put on to camouflage and protect my soft, crabby little inner self.
Another was a variation of an image that came to me back when my mother was still alive, and my older daughter was pregnant with my granddaughter. Whenever the three of us (well, four, counting my granddaughter who was still hiding within) were together: I would envision us as this living embodiment of Ukrainian nesting dolls; My mother had once hidden me within, as I had once hidden my daughter; as she now held my grandchild-to-be within her.
Now I'm picturing myself as a nesting doll all on my own - one that holds all of the different versions of me - from the newborn me, the artist/child, the silly pre-teen, the rebellious teenager; the woman who desires; the wife who wants to please (sometimes!); the mother and grandmother who wants to protect and nurture; the friend; the jester; the critical shadow woman; the bland professional who hides her emotions. They are all inside me - I carry them with me wherever I go, whatever I do. Hiding under the hard candy-coated shell I wear on the outside, that protects the layers of chocolate and the melty soft caramel at the heart - there's quite a crowd in there, if I peeled back all the layers.
I love, love, love this! Your description of your collage is amazing...I love that line... "Hiding under the hard candy-coated shell I wear on the outside, that protects the layers of chocolate and the melty soft caramel at the heart"
I can feel you and really understand what you are saying. Beautifully done!
Posted by: melba | February 17, 2006 at 07:32 AM
oo, what a beautiful image, being the nesting doll and holding all of those pieces of you inside. great collage and great post!
Posted by: kat | February 17, 2006 at 10:00 AM
great metaphor! Really peeling back the layers here--nice!
Posted by: Snowbear | February 17, 2006 at 10:13 AM
Snap on the nesting doll!
And such a beautiful image you created too.
Posted by: Caroline | February 17, 2006 at 10:41 AM
This is wonderful. I am really struck by the image of layers within coupled with the outer layers (mother, grandmother). Beautifully conceived.
Posted by: Imelda | February 17, 2006 at 01:05 PM
you made me hungry with talk of chocolate and caramel and all...
Posted by: violetismycolor | February 17, 2006 at 07:22 PM
You look like you have the answers to universe in this collage. IT's powerful imagery.
Posted by: krista- the silent k | February 18, 2006 at 03:17 PM