Lisa Salerno "Paperdolls" Unfolds...

"The "paperdolls" series unfolded quite by accident, or perhaps it was by luck? I discovered a dissonant joy and longing in the repeating nameless-faceless forms of the vaguely female shapes I cut while playing with my daughter. While my initial intent was to entertain my little girl with these fun and innocent cutouts, I found myself imagining a story and character for each strand of figures. The repetitive patterns that unfolded reminded me of the ways in which our society so often ascribes stereotypes for each woman, ones that we impose upon ourselves, and ones that are imposed upon us.

As the ambiguity of each doll shape faded away when paper, paint, canvas, and pen combined, the narratives of each painting emerged, so too did their titles. One-worded but with double meaning, each painting is named in a manner reflective of the way in which each work investigates the female experience, sometimes playfully, sometimes flippantly, sometimes defiantly. Some of the smaller studies I have created so far include paper dolls in a snowflake pattern titled "flake", a piece crafted from a cut-up old artist statement titled "making a statement", a painting with a gold paper doll in the center titled "golddigger", and a piece titled "hotmess".

The short, unpunctuated titles are reflective of our modern, interconnected, high-speed culture, yet the imagery seeks to pay homage to traditional women's handicrafts, with folk art inspired quilt-like patterns. The various colors, iconography, symmetry, and interplay between negative and positive space, combine in an attempt to explore the contradictions and complexity of the modern female experience."

--Lisa Salerno

Lisa's "paperdolls" bring you back to childhood cutting paper, forming the connected figures; and the flat "cardboard" dolls that came in a book with her clothes ready to cut out so you can dress her in any style you wanted not even realizing the stereo-typing that we as young girls, adolescents were being indoctrinated into; a world, society that women were seen and not heard. Lisa's "Silenced" puts this into perspective quite perfectly, because even today, it still does take place.

mixed media by Lisa Salerno

Trying to change the way women are perceived to be is very difficult especially the climate of politics where women's rights are slowly being chipped away. Lisa's "Mary-Go-Round" is the epitome of what one anti-woman commentator portrays her to be.

by Lisa Salerno

And we mustn't forget the woman who seeks to be wealthy, who seeks companionship of the same quality in a man...for she is called "Golddigger" for her desires. But for a man to do the same it is allowed.

by Lisa Salerno

Lisa states it quite eloquently when she says "The short, unpunctuated titles are reflective of our modern, interconnected, high-speed culture...yet the imagery seeks to pay homage to the traditional women's handicrafts....an attempt to explore the contradictions and complexity of the modern female experience."

She has "pinned" the iconic paperdoll quite appropriately with what woman's culture is about and the struggles she endures on a daily basis not just here in the United States but around the world. In her description of the "traditional woman" it can be seen as a cynical but very poignant statement because it does put into perspective of how woman is perceived as a piece of furniture, to be used and abused and when done throw it away.

"Paperdolls" an innocent art project for anyone to create, but once you visit SoBoBo and see "Paperdolls" series you may walk away with a very different point of view. And each time you start cutting out "paperdolls" you will be reminded of the indoctrination young girls, adolescents and teenagers are experiencing even today in some parts of the world.

Lisa Salerno will be exhibiting "Paperdolls" from November 1st to November 30th at SoBoBo, 42 Naugatuck Avenue, Milford, CT. We hope you do visit us on Thursday, November 8th. Lisa's opening reception begins at 7:00 pm.

We ask that you stop at Firehouse Gallery too, for their opening reception on November 8th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visit Wild Expressions who will be having singer/songwriter Kayte Devlin! Stop in Seaside Wines & Spirits for that holiday wine you were thinking about for Thanksgiving!

Please do join us at Firehouse Gallery, SoBoBo, and Wild Expressions for an evening of warmth, well wishes and enjoy a moment of peace after what has happened. Sometimes taking that moment away from the madness can help put a clearer picture on what should be done next - all of you are in our thoughts...