Inside and Out: A portrait of Alexandra Jacoby

alright this is a portrait of a fascinating artist by the name of Alexandra Jacoby. Since 2000, she's been putting together a body of photographs of women's vaginas. These v-portraits as she calls them, will be compiled in a book. Her website talks more about the project and aims to spark further conversation.
www.vaginaverite.com

 

Black: alright then let's paint a picture with words Black: we'll start right now Red: I'm game Black: game is already playful Black: a good way to begin almost anything Red: yes - I need fun all over! Black: where does fun begin? Red: with contact, or a thought Black: and a though - that's like a spark Red: or a color Black: yes i like Black: a color thought Red: yes, that, too - colors definitely turn me on Black: a thought of red - what's what i like about red - it seems to contain the hidden fire of all color Red: yes, I feel that way about orange actually - it's the fire and less stable Black: a color that moves? Red: all color moves Black: i like to think so too Red: now, you're hitting on something I love to think about - how everything is ever-moving Black: i guess at different speeds Black: color is relative and so is time Red: so many different speeds and faster than that pesky speed of light limit Red: yes, relative - that's fun, too Black: and you make paintings too with those colors Black: bright ones Black: intense ones Red: yes - though, lately I've only painted my wall Black: a monochrome? Red: bright and intense - I paint like with thick crayons Black: i like Red: well, you saw the end result - the white walls were a big, welcome change and the teal and metallics - all in the last couple of months Red: thank you - me, too - I had no idea how much I needed to refresh the walls til I did Black: i like the idea of a small change changing a space Red: like the walls of the inside of my head - you don't notice how sluggish it gets in there until that phase has passed Red: me, too - changing space - that's a good aspiration any day Black: like the walls of the inside of my head Black: wow felt good just to repeat that Red: yeh Red: can you see it? I have this sense-sight of walking around the inside of my head, looking for my thought, what I know or don't yet Black: a comfortable space Black: well certainly cozy Red: kind of yeh - but I'm ever looking to get to the other sides Red: but I guess I am comfortable there - never noticed that before Black: well i think that's the art part Red: probably - it's home anyway, and home is where you get to make things Black: the melting of barriers in a way Red: no barriers, all laid out Black: i was talking with someone earlier today by im who was eating tapioca pudding Red: funny that everything in there is invisible - it's black, yet full Red: tapioca pudding and typing? Red: tapioca is also fun to repeat Black: yes - though she would have preferred a donut she pointed out Black: you can tap the first part Red: really - tapioca - oh, you're funny! - when was the last time you had tapioca? Red: and what is it anyway? Black: hmm Black: well a long time ago i'd say Red: me, too Black: i think it's ...... not quite sure Black: little bits of stuff in a pudding like... pudding Red: pudding is good - the stuff of the universe Black: indeed! Red: I never get to say indeed often enough - too much rushing! Black: anyway she asked me what i was up to tonight and i told her i was putting a glaze on one painting and preparing to start another via im Black: she said really? with whom? Red: how do you prepare? Black: and when i replied 'a woman who's making a book of vagina photographs' she replied 'oh wow. that should be interesting Red: I hope! Black: then she put in one of those smiles Red: vaginas make people smile! Black: i prepare mostly by clearing my head Black: they do they really do Red: wow - that is amazing Red: I'm smiling since the word came up Black: the word has my friend's name in it too Black: gina! Red: I guessed! Black: so i sometimes see it as go gina! Red: :-) Black: go girl Red: do you see words when you hear them or say them Black: more and more i see them well i say them too Black: i think words are seeing sound things Red: nice Black: like a composer who can read music and hear it on the page Red: right! Red: I really like that image Black: so this canvas right here - well it could also be on paper... Black: but whatever it is we know its a portrait of you making yourself in a moment Red: you, too! Black: indeed! Red: there you go again! Black: va? Red: indeed! Black: vatom Red: is that you then, partial and moved around? Black: moved around - yes i'd say so Red: what's moving you today? Black: we've both moved quite a bit already Red: o, good - my fear in life is to sit still Black: i've started putting an element of sparke in my paintings Red: are you painting on the screen? Black: very subtle so that the painting seems to react to the viewer in subtle but discernable ways Red: i like the inclusion of the viewer Black: no this im moment is only a transitory one Black: it's lives on but on the canvas Black: so for all practical purposes we're there now Red: I have the urge toward making things solid when you say that Red: or here Black: and somebody might be looking at this saying to themselves 'who are these two talking people?' Black: yes exactly Black: (t)here Black: i love that Red: nice! Red: that's the first time I've seen that - I'll credit you when I use it Black: its a small concise poem that got the idea across one day Red: small poem Black: small Black: all Black: a Red: s Red: where did it go? Red: ok, now I want to see behind the chat window Black: perhaps it fell off the canvas Red: and bounced away? Black: is it on the floor by the viewer's feet? Black: might have Black: why do you make art? Red: I don't think they noticed the click when it hit - they're looking up Red: I have to Red: I have to make things Red: It's something like I can't see otherwise Black: and now you're involved in helping others to see as well Black: what's that like Red: yes Red: that is less and less scary and so exciting when they tell me about how they feel Red: I did a portrait recently - she brought a friend and we talked for hours - it's like that more and more and then they thank me! Black: wonderful Red: truly Black: i like the idea of found intimate moments Black: and art makes those possible Red: it's so surprising Black: the practice of it Red: yes! Red: that's back to the thought that starts fun off Black: full circle Red: neat and tidy Red: now, spiral! Black: and fits nicely in a square too Red: square is good - you saw I like squares a lot! Red: good for moving more slowly and taking in Black: yes and without prejudice Red: the beauty of it all! Black: tell me about vaginas what makes them beautiful? Red: that that's a woman there Black: behind the veil? Red: the shapes are pretty fascinating Black: like flowers Red: not exactly behind, because the vagina is her, too Red: and mouths Red: vaginas are entrances Black: so a veil that veils but which also is Black: the veil that encloses Red: and thresholds are beyond-words good! Red: well, the veil is outside for me, so I'm thinking of another word that feels like it's not separate - I think it's threshold Black: yes - the point of being both inside and out Red: right! Red: it's the edge of communicating Red: when I look at the wall, I think they may start talking any second Red: if they wanted to Black: what might some of them be saying? Black: i think we've summoned up eve here! Red: I don't know - they might want to talk more about vaginas Red: eve of adam-and-eve, or Eve Ensler? Black: they're both here in eve Black: and so is this night Red: hah! Red: I'm looking over at them and they are totally satisfied with themselves just being here and visible Black: are you a fan of jazz? Red: not so familiar.... Black: well the idea of it Red: yes Black: individuals each with a voice Red: i love that! Black: having a collective conversation Red: and that, too! Black: the pictures on the wall and your thoughts your solo Red: the note I'm on is all about making a place for individual voices Black: this is a red area of the painting Black: i'll be the drummer Red: how's that? I'm interrupting way less than I typically do Black: and maybe i'll play bass Red: keyboards for me then Black: i was thinking sax Red: lips Black: but let's hear some keyboards! Red: oh, oh! a cue Black: hehe Red: yep, still have it - I go blank on cue!! Black: absolutely - the fun part is we can take out a sentence like this one Red: which one? Black: hahah Black: the one above that starts with absolutely Red: cute Black: any one really Red: i say rearrange them all by shape! Black: tell me and our viewers a story from the project that in particular made you realize you were doing something great Black: and i think sometimes those stories are kind of quiet Red: ok, well, Red: last week I did an exhibition at a reading Red: and the woman who introduced me told the story of how she felt when she saw Spire at ABC Carpet Red: I didn't know this Red: She kind of giggled and was taken aback Red: and the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to talk about it until she was thanking me for changing her life and that she was next on the wall Black: wow Red: a 15-year old girl wrote to me that she might be in a less of a rush to lose her virginity if she had the book to look at Red: yeh - she blew me away Black: how much beauty can come together in one place? Red: so much it hurts Red: and each time you think there could never be more than that Black: and then another crashing wave Red: beauty is always wet Red: funny thing - Red: one woman at the Q&A asked me how I got all the vaginas so dry for the portraits Black: ah and what did you say? Red: I'd never thought about that before, but that is surprising Red: I told her that I didn't do anything Red: Guess I didn't turn them on Red: everyone laughed Black: hhaha Red: also, one woman was very wet Red: I had never seen that before Red: about to pour out of her Red: She had dark skin and the liquid was so white Red: I haven't included that shot though - the rest have all been in a dry moment Red: what I loved most was that she said: dry and perfect Black: perfect Red: exactly Black: like a finished canvas Red: that's my dream to move things to where how things are is perfect Red: for a moment Red: I think the canvas feels finished when you feel it and then later, it all starts moving again Black: dryly stated the on-going illusion of wetness Red: yes :-) Black: stating that is. i think we made a painting