Mad Tea Party 1

Comment

Comment by Christine Rossi on June 5, 2011 at 10:25pm

Thank you, and thank you for looking at my work.

Best regards,

Christine

Comment by Christine Rossi on May 23, 2011 at 11:15am

Thanks!

Comment by Resident Curator on May 23, 2011 at 8:48am

I'm so glad you appreciated my comments.  It is a fascinating work on multiple levels.  And congratulations on the sale.

Comment by Christine Rossi on May 22, 2011 at 11:48am

Thank you for your very astute commentary. I appreciate the feedback. Your description is much more articulate than I could ever be and you capture my inspiration and motives well. As for appropriating too much from Tenniel? Yes, why reinvent the wheel. I make no apologies, his style and satirical wit are ingrained in my head from childhood and to appropriate his illustrations for my own nefarious purpose would probably please him, imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. All my Alice pieces are at very least, a social commentary  and many are politically charged.

Thank you for looking at my work.

By the way, I just sold the original "Mad Tea Party".

 

Best regards

Christine Rossi

Comment by Resident Curator on May 22, 2011 at 11:37am

Curator Comment:

 

Your Mad Tea Party takes on political overtones in the context of the other work in your Alice series, and in today's highly charged partisan climate. I easily recognize the cast of characters, even though they seem more adversarial than I remember- the Cheshire cat perched on the chair behind Alice has gnashed teeth in an open mouth rather than a knowing, cunning smile.  Alice herself seems to dig in her heels across a long table in skewed perspective.  The red of her chair reinforces her anger- and pointed stare at the Mad Hatter.  But the Hatter returns her gaze directly and evenly, wearing a more light hearted costume.  That being said, you may owe too much a debt to the original illustrations (engravings of Alice and cast) by John Tenniel.  The Mad Hatter in particular bears a strong resemblance.  The pieces where you interject a more contemporary figure, or more unusual arrangement of figures offers stronger, more digested satirical appropriation.  I enjoy the restrained text in the background, keeping the emphasis on the charged characters.  All of the delicate cups and saucers remain perfectly in their designated place.  Is this the calm before the storm? 

 

The illustrative quality of this series presents a clear narrative, drawing from archetypal and previously illustrated characters.  Your lush use of color, mixed media and drawing skills have much to offer, and I applaud your interjection of present day economic woes in your work.  Alice in Bankland really appeals because of its direct correlation and bridge from past story to present day.  In these works you interweave what we already understand, and reveal we're reliving a familiar story that may not have a happy ending.