Were you ever inspired to make an Art Gown by moonlight?
Yes! Then you were enraptured by Artemis, Greek goddess of hunting and goddess of the moon.
Artemis, the Art Gown, is dedicated to Aquileana from La Audacia de Aquiles, and Oloriel Moonshadow from Colour Me in Cyanide and Cherry. The three of us have joined our mystic forces to create a fabulous three part post tribute to this prodigious goddess.
Oloriel has posted a most evocative poem with beautiful artwork, “Invoking the Huntress” It is a wonderful part 2 of our 3 part collaboration. Aquileana has posted a marvelous essay, “Artemis’ Dual Achetype”. In this article, Aquileana smartly brings all 3 posts together.
Months ago, when brainstorming ideas, Aquileana suggested animal prints. Artemis is, after all, goddess of hunting. The veggie-head in me decided I would create an abstract animal print of my own. This way no animal print fabrics would be harmed.
In the end, some people thought the fabric looked more like tree bark. Oloriel said she though it was the moon dripping it’s light on the gown.
As I’d used up all of my fabric stash, I hit the bargain bin fabric shop on Queen Street.
I got a deal on a stretch, crushed and burnt out velvet. It had a brown stain from the cardboard roll running through it.
Not a problem, as I was painting the fabric with an iridescent metallic paint.
The paint was mixed with a fabric medium, and voila, after a month of painting, the goods were ready.
I chose a copper satin for the tails.
They almost paid me to take the satin off their hands. It is flawed with dark streaks woven in here and there.
I needed some type of rope to adorn her. So, I made tubes from the satin, & braided them with tubes I made from the wrong side of a cheesy sparkly disco material.
It took 5 hours to make 2 yards of braid. In the end I made 10 yards.
The copper satin tail was made rounded, to mimic a copper moon. A moon shaped copper amulet was dressed around her neck.
From above, the moon watches over Artemis.
Although she wanted to go hunting, Artemis was stuck in the Art Gown Room, in the city of Toronto. Also, she had only one virgin nymph with her.
I jokingly told her she could go hunting in my house plants, whereupon she fluffed her tail at me. As you can see from the slideshow, she has a lot of tail attitude.
Artemis waits, as the sun sets and the moon rises.
The end of “Magic Hour”
Once the moon had risen, Art Gown Artemis requested a ride in her chariot.
I told her there was no chariot, because parking was too, expensive in downtown Toronto. She just stood there staring at me until the next day.
Art Gown “Artemis by Moonlight” designed & made by Resa – November 2016 – February 2017
Photos © Resa McConaghy 2017
I keep thinking about how my Artemis collaboration partners, and myself make a magic triangle: Aquileana in Buenos Aires, Argentina.. Oloriel in Belgrade, Serbia ..Resa in Toronto, Canada.
Aquileana is smart as a whip. I always have to read her posts 2 or 3 times.
This is because I want to completely absorb all she has taken much time to share with us. I have learned most about what I know of Greek Mythology from reading her blog.
Click on the girls’ faces, and go to their blogs’ Home Pages. Click on the sketch or book cover, and go to each of their Artemis posts.
Oloriel’s poetry runs the gamut from sweetly intense to piquing, and her artwork is pleasing and intriguing.
She wrote a book, “Colour Me In Cyanide & Cherries. Go to her blog, and discover all she has to offer, and how you can buy a copy of her book!
Me, I’m busy pressing Artemis’ tail. The rest of the Art Gowns are lined up in the hallway, waiting to have their tails pressed. You haven’t lived until you get to press Art Gowns’ tales.
Artemis pines for the forest.
All writing © Resa McConaghy
Art Gowns 
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