Christine Palamidessi
About | In the panoply of images and guides I dip into for art making, Nike called to me during the 2020 pandemic. Nike: the winged goddess of victory; Zeus’ chariot commander; the darling of marathons; an apotropaic figurehead; the distributor of trophies that recognize success; the swoosh on our shoes.
During Covid, I have been making ‘Nike Project’ masks and breastplates, molding the faces and bodies of young, strong women in paper and gold leaf, pieces of copper and jewels. Some items are flattened or painted, some swiped with plaster, and some propped-on pedestals. I like to stitch through the dimensions of this work with sewing needles threaded with silk and linen. Sewing and stitching are both a way to heal and a way to join past and present. With my needles, I sink down into my material, myths and imprints of flesh, tugging the thread to join what we humans do during a pandemic—protect ourselves from getting sick, protect our loved ones, stand guard, persevere, do not get overwhelmed by the people we are stuck in the ‘submarine’ with, and strive to be the best person we can be while waging war on the virus, waiting for victory.
Q & A
What are your earliest memories of being artistic? Best to read Q&A article that asks exactly these same questions!
Les Femmes Folles https://femmesfollesnebraska.tumblr.com/post/137760572942/christine-palamidessi-artist
How did you first become involved with CAA? One of my art book sculptures was in a judged ‘art book’ show—I believe in 2012–and another of my sculptures was also in a CAA judged show shortly after that, so I thought CAA group would be a good match for my work and that the community would be like-minded.
In what other ways are you involved in the local art community? I taught several writer workshops for artists at CAA.
Goddess Nike: Tribal Nations, Mixed- cast cotton and paper, inks, found objects, gold leaf
What role do you think the artist plays in society? When I travelled to Cuba, I saw how visual artists and poets were honored. When people I met found out I was an artist—well, they genuflected. That experience really drove home the power of artist as spokesperson for the soul of a country, community and tribe.
What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium? I do printmaking—mostly monotypes—and sculpture. I trained with artisans in Italy in maskmaking and cartapesta technique. In southern Italy they do not have hard stone for sculpture so long ago they devised a method for making religious sculptures from paper and then embedding the paper with a complicated 8-stage layering of plaster and rabbit hide glues. I use that same technique for much of my work.
What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days? I have no shortage of ideas! In the statement, I write about my Covid project.
Studio shot with two Goddess Nike Masks (Nile River and Shedding), Mixed
How do you choose your subject matter? Is there a reoccurring theme that carries throughout your work? Antiquity….moving the past to the present and the present to the past. Somehow the world and its stories & images are older than we think and at the same time living right beside us in the continuous present
In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made? All of them
What is one of your artistic goals? Continuing
What’s your favorite place to see art, and why? The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto-Marta absolutely takes my breath away.
Goddess Nike: Wuhan, Mixed-cast cotton and paper, inks, paint, silk threads
What living artists are you inspired by? Many
Do you own any art by other artists? Is so, what artists? I collect art by Dick Stroud, an African American artist; I also buy art by Boston artists and the New York artists I have known and been friends with; photography by New York artist Susan May Tell.
Do you have any shows coming up?
Lecce Italy- Summer 2021
Galatea Fine Art- October 2021
Atlantic Works Gallery -March 2022
Duxbury Art Museum- Summer 2022
See more from Christine
Website www.palamidessi.com
Instagram @palamidessi.art