This may have been where it all began. An attempt to send love across the pond...
In summer of 2008 while enjoying my favorite NYC bridge I happened upon the "telectroscope" set up by English artist Paul St George- & the group Artichoke . I was so inspired when I saw this visual link to London (& N.Y.C. via the Brooklyn base of the Brooklyn Bridge) I excitedly ran home & created some signs to hold up for the people of London to see. ( There was only the visual to rely on for communication-no audio-so signs seemed the perfect idea...)
Having taught classes in map and mobility skills to blind and visually impaired children I have long had a love of symbols. Simple, well designed symbols that are meant to convey so much. The heart has long been a favorite of mine-showing up in almost every Valentine card design I have ever created & many of my silkscreen prints & cut paper art. Of course, the heart was what I chose to draw for this special message.
One interesting note: I recently worked with pediatric patients at a N.Y. hospital and had an interesting conversation with one young patient who told me of her disappointment at learning one's actual heart looked nothing like the image/ symbol we use so often to depict the heart. She thought one's real heart looked ugly in comparison. She was truly disillusioned that the image we all embrace is so disconnected from the heart that resides within each one of us. I'll never forget this idea of hers & I think about it as I create my heart images.
Last weekend I saw the "Afghanistan:Hidden Treasures From the National Museum" show at the Metropolitan Museum . In many of the amazing pieces on display I spotted heart motifs. One of the most mesmerizing was a thin gold crown...it again got me thinking about how the heart motif came into being...does anyone out there know?
If you are curious about the telectroscope you can go
here for more info.
