Dick and Jane.

Maggy Rozycki Hiltner uses embroidered images of children that seem straight out of a "Dick and Jane" book- except sometimes Jane is a slut and Dick is well a "dick." I know that this is oversimplifying to the extreme. Because in actuality Maggy seems to be exploring some tough subjects such as gender, sexuality, victimization, and the power struggle and stereotypes of the sexes. By using the very familiar and non threatening images of "Dick and Jane" she is able to represent some pretty taboo images and question the role of gender and beauty in our culture.



Coincidentally, I post about her after the amazing discussion about Stephen Sollins work yesterday. She too re-appropriates found linens and de-constructs them to create the environment for her figures- cutting out embroidered flowers and animals from found linens to re-layer them into new environments and juxtapositions. Her construction is intentionally "sloppy" and chunky in its layering- adding contrast to the neat perfect stitches of her figures.

Maggy states "I like when the work feels like a Home Ec project gone awry." To me this is a home ec project gone very right.

But it is interesting to go back to yesterdays discussion. Questioning why is her work not considered controversial as Stephens' is? She deconstructs and reuses in technically a pretty similar way. Is it simply a reflection of the very roles and stereotypes Maggy is questioning?
He is a man- she is a woman.



Or is it that he re-creates a very male image- the modernist image and she re-creates a more domestic image of "Dick and Jane." If they were making the exact same work but reversed. Would she be under scrutiny or would the scrutiny move with him to her work? It is very interesting to think about. If you have missed the conversation check it out from yesterdays post.

Either way I love both their work. Maggy also has some examples of large scale pieces on her website that are simply fabulous.