This is a completed project for my Drawing II class. I am pretty happy with how it turned out!
Double Self-Portrait:
A Conversation with Myself
The
narrative of my piece works on two levels. One level being my interest in Art
History and borrowing elements from Masaccio’s The Holy Trinity and another level working with my personal
connections with Saint Mary.
In my piece I
have drawn myself as Mary from Masaccio’s piece. I have tried to give myself
her expression from the painting. She is the interlocutor in the painting,
meaning she is making eye contact with the audience and pointing out the main
focus of the piece, in that case it was Christ… in my piece however “Saint
Mary-Mary” is directing the viewer to the schematic, colored-pencil drawing of
myself. This version is supposed to represent the “real me.”
My original
thought for this piece was going to be a straight objective piece combining
portraits of myself with the Masaccio narrative, but as I thought more about
the piece I realized I have much more connection to the overall story.
I collect St. Mary pillar candles just as a unique
collection type hobby. I have included these in the piece. I like these candles
because they are inexpensive, but hold such a sacred image for people to use
while praying or to hold vigil with. I like that juxtaposition. The “St.
Mary-Mary,” “the real me,” and the candles create a holy trinity of Marys in
the piece going back to The Holy Trinity
idea.
There is more to
it though… I was named after a Catholic nun named Sister Mary Faith. My full
name is Mary Faith Arnett and I was called Mary Faith all through grade school
because I attended grade school at a Catholic school where my mom taught for
many years. Sister Mary Faith is an incredibly kind woman, who I am honored to
be named after. Going to Catholic grade school was a bit odd though because I
am not Catholic. So while all the
other kids were learning what they needed to learn for their First Communion,
first confession, etc., it didn’t really apply to me. But on the flipside, at the
Wesleyan church my family and I attended… almost every Christmas I would play
the part of Mary in Christmas programs.
I have included the
memento mori (reminder of death) of The
Holy Trinity (“I once was what you are and what I am you also will be”) to
bring the piece full circle. I say full circle because I believe all these
connections to St. Mary have somewhat influenced me. These connections have
influenced me by making me aware that I was named after someone much more than
myself; the name Mary has made me conscious that my name reminds people of
goodness, saintliness. But I am my own
original person. I am a Mary who is completely unique to me. From birth till
now I have been myself, Mary Faith Arnett and from now till death I will be me,
Mary.
