Aphrodite's Girdle 1

I am a member of 901 textile group (the history of 901 and identities and work of its members is yet another post!) and although we lead very busy lives and get together fewer times than we would like we set ourselves a group challenge each year and have great fun seeing how we have each interpreted it.

The Aphrodite's Girdle blog outlines my journey to produce something to celebrate the 10th anniversay of the formation of our group in July 2001 and was inspired by the radio programme ' The history of the world in 100 objects'. The 901 version and overall title is ' 10 years of 901 and moving on' and the challenge was 'to create a piece of work out of fabric (but could be in any format - quilt, box, book etc) based on an object from your life'.

I struggled to think what object I wanted to interpret until my husband reminded me that I had always wanted to produce a piece of textile work that represents our many lovely Greek Island holidays - in fact we have 100's of photos taken to inspire me! Peeling paint on doors, crumbling masonry, churches and the little shrines dotted along the side of most roads, and of course the fantastic flora and fauna to name but a few genres. Great idea - but what about the object?

And then it came to me! On our last visit to Crete when we were out and about in our hired Suzuki Jimny 4x4 we stopped outside a cemetery and were taking photos when my husband found a wire and pearl beaded 'tree' trodden into the track; this is my 'object' and inspiration - and the project could begin!

The other decision to be made was what format my work would take. This was a much easier decision as I have recently been interested in making corsets and had already completed one - but how to tie my found object with a corset was more problematic! Until I started researching Greek history and mythology when a strange series of serendipitous connections presented themselves to me .....

 

Aphrodite is the Greek Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation who has risen from the foam of the waves of the sea, enchanting anyone who sees her and inciting feelings of love and lust wherever she goes. Ancient mythology provides numerous instances in which Aphrodite punished those who neglected her worship or despised her power, as well as others where she favoured and protected those who did homage to her and recognised her sway. Love and beauty are essentially connected , and Aphodite was therefore also the goddess of beauty and gracefulness and in these points she surpassed all other goddesses.

 



Aphrodite has a magic girdle with the power to inspire the passion of desire indeed, Hera goddess of marriage, occasionally borrowed it from Aphrodite to reunite quarrelling spouses  and to inspire the bridal contests of suitors.

Now I know a girdle is not the same as a corset in Greek mythology but it's good enough for me! Also corsets have a slightly racy image - and Aphrodite certainly wasn't chaste!


And last but not least Aphrodite is also associated with flora and fauna as she is considered to be the Mother of all living things. The Myrtle tree (Greek Myrrhina) and Myrrh bush (Greek Smyrna) were sacred to Aprhodite because it was from one of these plants that her beloved Adonis was apprently born.

When I looked at pictures of a Myrtle tree I realised what my found object is very likely to be, especially when I then found out that Brides often carry a sprig of Myrtle in their wedding bouquets; Myrtle is supposed to bring luck and happiness to lovers as it represents regeneration and longevity.

So, serendipity has stepped in and given me all the connections I need to proceed with my project and I will chart my progress via this blog.