Personal Mythologies

Medusa - Woodie Anderson
Medusa
Serigraph; 10″ x 13.25″

“…I started thinking about the myths that we build up around ourselves; they could be religious myths or not. And then I thought of personal histories and how the two tie together, and the key image that kept coming back into my mind was Medusa from mythology. The great thing about her that I love is just the aspect that you can be your own worst enemy. … Here is this powerful strong woman who, depending on the version of the story you’re reading, was severely mistreated, and in a way it isn’t quite fair that she ended up the way she is. She had this strength and beauty, but if she were to look in a mirror, she would destroy herself. Self-critical thoughts can keep you from doing things …[that’s] one of the core ideas that I wanted to include [in this work].” – Woodie Anderson (10/14/09 Go Triad, Greensboro News and Record) Read more from this interview here.

Airing Laundry - Woodie Anderson
Airing Laundry
scarf series / serigraph / mixed media
This installation evolves over the course of the exhibit. A note next to the clothesline encourages visitors to “Air The Laundry” by sorting through the baskets of scarves, hanging and rearranging them as they see fit.
Sisters - Woodie Anderson
Sisters
Serigraph; 10″ x 13.25″
Ophelia - Woodie Anderson
Ophelia
Serigraph; 10″ x 13.25″
Eve; Never Be Afraid To Learn - Woodie Anderson
Left: Eve; Serigraph; 11.5 ” x 9.75”
Right: Never be Afraid to Learn; Serigraph; 11.5 ” x 9.75”
Exodus II - Woodie Anderson
Exodus II
Serigraph; 14.5” x 6”
Eve and Medusa - Woodie Anderson
Eve and Medusa
Serigraph; 11” x 10”
Exodus I - Woodie Anderson
Exodus 1
Serigraph; 14.5” x 6”
Madonna II - Woodie Anderson
Madonna II
Serigraph; 9.5” x 8.75”

“There are lots of ways to explore the themes [of the myths that we build up around ourselves]. I did a series of Madonnas, and they are more about protection and maternal instincts. I am not a mother myself, but I feel like I understand that from friends who are mothers and being from a big family.” – Woodie Anderson (10/14/09 Go Triad, Greensboro News and Record) Read more from this interview here.

Madonna I - Woodie Anderson
Madonna II
Serigraph; 9.5” x 8.75”

Additional Personal Mythologies: shown below and in Personal Mythologies: Preaching to the Choir.

Nest - Woodie Anderson
Nest
Serigraph; 9.5” x 13.5”
Madonna IV - Woodie Anderson
Madonna IV
Serigraph; 9.5” x 8.75”
Here there be monsters - Woodie Anderson
Here There Be
Serigraph; 9.75″ x 12.25″
Madonna III - Woodie Anderson
Madonna III
Serigraph; 9.5” x 8.75”