I will be completing my terminal degree in Fine Arts in May of 2009 and have developed a special final thesis project to complete my studies. The focus of my work is based on the female experience and while my degree is in painting, I am taking an interdisciplinary approach to my Thesis Exhibition. I am hoping you will take a moment to read about my project and consider the invitation it includes.

I am inviting women that have influenced me in some way whether artistically, personally, or intellectually to write a letter about an experience or a pivotal moment in their lives and how it affected them as women. This isn’t about age, race, ethnicity, politics, religion, socio-economic factors or sexual orientation; it is about women. Invariably these issues will surface as they serve to influence and shape our identities, beliefs and, ultimately, who we are. No two experiences will be the same but each will reflect the influences of the preceding generation as well their own. We come from different backgrounds, different experiences and divergent cultures but the one thing that binds us one to another is that we are women. The only directive is that whatever the participants choose to share, whether positive or negative, it should revolve around the fact that they are women.

The project is comprised of four stages: Invitation, execution, presentation and finally, publication. Once the letters have been received and organized they will be either copied or transcribed and then printed on a continuous loop of cloth which will then be draped over a succession of ironing boards. Once this is completed there will be a performance art experience that will take place which will coincide with my Graduate Thesis exhibition. During the performance one woman will begin ironing out wrinkles and then pass it on to another woman who will iron wrinkles into the fabric and will then pass it on to another and so on completing the circle and beginning the process again. The performance will be executed in complete silence and will last thirty minutes. The performance will also be documented photographically and possibly with video. After the performance, the piece will remain in situ until the close of the exhibition. The project will conclude with the letters and images along with essays by selected women being compiled into book form and published. I expect the project to evolve as the dialogue evolves but this is the basic format that I will follow.


I am respectfully inviting you to participate in this project. I understand and appreciate that often experiences are sensitive or deeply personal. In fact, some may choose to share something they have never shared with another. I will recognize requests for anonymity and will do my best to ensure identities are not revealed should you desire to remain anonymous. If you choose to participate please consider inviting one woman that has influenced you to participate as well. It can be a mother, a daughter, relative, mentor or friend or possibly someone you may not know personally but whose influence has been significant in your life. My goal is to have at least one hundred women participate in this interdisciplinary experience.


Please take a moment to consider your participation in this project. I am more than happy to provide references or answer any questions or address any concerns you may have. Please note that your participation constitutes permission for your words to be included in all aspects of this project including publication. All letters will be handled with the utmost respect and there will be no purposeful misuse or distribution beyond the constraints of the project itself.

My sincere thanks and kindest regards,



Susan