About
Artist’s Statement
Beauty is an ever changing standard and can be a deciding factor in determining whether we are esteemed or outcast within a culture.
From a woman suffering with ritually bound feet in Sung dynasty China to a modern American trying to squeeze into her “skinny jeans,” or a man who spends hours every week pumping exercise machines in pursuit of six-pack abs, we feel the pressure to conform to standards of idealized beauty — standards we feel compelled to measure ourselves against. Many allow this measurement to powerfully influence their sense of self-worth.
A woman’s spirit, her sense of confidence and self-worth, may be broken by repetitive messages that tell her she isn’t good enough the way she is — poisonous messages with no higher purpose than to generate demand for self-improvement products. In this age of technology the exposure to these critical messages is nearly constant from e-mail spam, radio, television, film, and print media. Men and women have to put on mental armor every day to deflect the pointed barbs and subtle hints that we should wax away hair, lose twenty pounds, and have bigger breasts or a larger penis.
Body Politics is a major collaborative series by artists Tammy Vitale and Heather Bartlett that addresses the concepts of self-image, self-worth, and submission to standard ideals of beauty, and how these affect our perceptions of our own bodies. The series features a number of interactive pieces inviting viewer participation, and though its primary focus is women’s body images, it includes works about male body image as well.
Artist Bios
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Tammy Vitale
Tammy Vitale is an internationally known sculptor who makes distinctive sculptures for hearth and soul. Her work has appeared in numerous gallery exhibits and solo shows, and has been the subject of many magazines articles and news media, including, most recently, Southern Maryland This is Living Summer edition 2007.
“I believe that, since each person in the world is unique, they should be able to buy art that is unique, too; art that helps them create comfortable and special places where ever they find themselves,” says Vitale.
For 2008, Vitale is creating only 200 pieces for her exclusive line Sacred (in addition to working on the interactive show, Body Politics, with Heather Bartlett, which will combine old and new works). These pieces will be offered wholesale to shops and galleries across the country. To that end, she applied to and was juried in The Philadelphia Buyer’s Market for Wholesale Crafts, a venerable wholesale show held in Philadelphia February 15 – 18 and August 2 – 4, 2008. In the February show, her work may be viewed and ordered at Booth 4233; the August booth numbers have not been assigned.
She is currently represented by A Step Above in Berlin, MD, Herons Way Gallery in Leonardtown, MD, Sandy Bay Gallery in Hatteras, NC and Island Artworks in Ocracoake, NC. Her smaller work can still be found at The Bead Boutique in Prince Frederick, MD, and Body in Balance in Prince Frederick, MD. Vitale also participates in Unique Boutique every fall since 2006 at the Hollywood Firehouse in St Marys County (Nov 8, 9, 2008), and in various Calvert Artists’ Guild shows, including shows at AnnMarie Gardens Gallery, ArtsFest (with the Guild), and at PRAD (Patuxent River Appreciation Days) on Solomons Island (Oct 11-12,2008). In March she will present a solo show at the Lexington Park Library, Lexington Park, MD from March 14 to April 30, 2008, which will include both her 2D and 3D work.
In 2007 Vitale was invited to be featured artist at British Ink Tattoo Design in D.C., where popular author Melissa Marr fell in love with and purchased one of her torsos.
She was the featured artist at Joie de Vivre in Cambridge, MD, Nov 2006 through February 2007, and at Kefa Café in Silver Spring, MD, March 10 – April 10, 2006.
In 2005 she was commissioned by the Town of North Beach to create a public artwork for the Boardwalk. In 2005, she was commissioned by the town of North Beach, MD, to complete a public installation of art. For that piece, Vitale designed a celebration of the Chesapeake Bay and its creatures, and executed and installed the 11ft wide by 7.5 ft tall architectural tiles work at the entrance to the Visitor’s Center/Beach at 5th Street and the Boardwalk in North Beach, and has designed, executed and installed several other architectural pieces for private clients, as well as in her own cottage and home. Shows in 2005 included a solo show at the Hard Bean Café in Annapolis (November 1 – 30) and “Celebrating the Divine Feminine” with Lyn Striegel at ArtWorks@7th in North Beach (October 1 – December 30).
Vitale started her full-time career as a clay sculptor in May 2002 as resident artist at Carmen’s Gallery in Solomons, Md, for one month, and went on to found the Wylde Women Gallery (10/2004), open to and encouraging all artists, which was closed a year later (10/2005)due to censorship. Vitale also founded the non-profit Arts Alive! which sought to bring diverse art and artists to Southern Maryland, including the delightful Annie King Phillips who presented a lecture and workshop on collage in conjunction with the Calvert County Library. Vitale was co-curator of “Independent Visions,” an art show at Vision Gallery in Georgetown (DC) July 9 – 30, 2005.
She has participated in the last three ArtOMatic shows, in DC in 2002 and 2004 and in Crystal City in 2007
Vitale’s work can be seen on her blog, http://www.tammyvitale.com/, and he new line, Sacred, at www.Sacred-TammyVitale.com
Recent Publications
Calvert Life Magazine, cover and feature story on Chesapeake, North Beach public art mural, August 2006
Washington Post, “Painting a New Picture of Region’s Art Scene,” March 19, 2006
Calvert Recorder February 6, 2006 Tam’s Originals announces affiliation with The Bronze Door Spa in Prince Frederick, MD.
Listing in “Southern Maryland Trails: Earth-Art-Imagination” 2006
pg 14 in conjunction with http://www.artworksat7th.com/ and
pg 15 in conjunction with “ Chesapeake” http://www.somarylandsogood.com/
Calvert Independent, A Celebration of the Divine Feminine at ArtWorks@7 th Gallery
“ Southern Maryland Weekend” August 5, 2005
Calvert Independent, July 13, 2005, Vitale’s Chesapeake Graces Boardwalk Near North Beach Welcome Center
Calvert Recorder, July 13, 2005, It Was a Beautiful Summer Weekend in Northern Calvert County by Pat Ullberg
The Calvert Recorder, July 8, 2005, Art Project Livens Up Boardwalk: Artist Vitale answers North Beach’s call for beautification by Viki Volk
Bay Weekly, July 7 – 13, 2005, The Big Picture: New North Beach Mural Introduces Neighbors Who Swim and Fly by Sara Ebenreck Leeland
“ Chesapeake Life” Magazine (April 05), pg. 95, Yard Art
The Enterprise, March 23, 2005, Local artists find new venue, by Susan C raton
Artella, Issue # 4 (November 03), Issue #6 (Summer 04), Issue #8 (Spring 05): pgs. 8 and 9: Tuesday Morning Meditation (poem), Fire Dreaming (sculpture) and interview with the artist.
Calvert Independent, November 24, 2004, Calvert artist takes her tile work to the next level
Calvert Recorder, October 13, 2004, Calvert Artist Exits Gallery Over Issue of War Censorship
Bay Weekly, August 5 – 11, 2004
National Organizers Alliance Newsletter (July 04), Issue 22, “Where the Wylde Women Are
The Calvert Recorder, May 28, 2004, Arts Alive provides Nurturing Environment for Aspiring Artists, by Katelyn Turner
Calvert Independent, Wylde Women to donate works for Empty Bowl Supper April 17
Calvert Recorder, January 30, 2004, State of the arts in So Md: Strong and growing
Southern Maryland Weekend, October 31, 2003, Into the Wylde: Artists find their art – and lives – weaving together wonderfully
Calvert Recorder, July 23, 2003 State of the Arts, editorial
Bay Weekly, July 17 – 23, 2003: Solomons Exposes Itself to Art: Arts Alive!
Calvert Recorder , When Creative Minds are Unleashed: Arts Alive@ gives locals a chance to explore
Calvert Independent, June 25, 2003, Meet the Wylde Women: Local artist support group finds constructive critique, feedback and stgrength in numbers
Calvert Recorder, When Wild Women Dream… art reception Saturday
Tammy Vitale was co-founder and leading force behind the creation of The Wylde Women. http://www.wyldewomen.com/, and Executive Director and creative energy behind Arts Alive!, a 501c3 project of SMASH, Inc.
Education
Peter King 6 day Architectural Tiles workshop 2004
Torpedo Factory, sculpture, Fall 2001 and Winter 2002
Prince Georges Community College, clay 101, Fall semester 1997
MA, Story and Social Change, Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont 1997
BA, Business Administration, Trinity College, Washington DC 1989
Art Classes, Broward Community College 1972-1975
Heather Bartlett
Heather Bartlett is a multi-media artist and art advocate in Southern Maryland. Her accomplishments include works in sculpture, written media, painting and photography. Her focus on themes such as self-image, beauty, feminine spirit and sexuality set her apart in her work.
Heather was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, in 1970. Her creative impulses appeared early on, manifesting in many hours of drawing and coloring. She loved secretly peeking at her mother’s various art endeavors – paintings and drawings, most of which remained in a trunk during the duration of Heather’s childhood.
While in fourth grade, Heather began drawing damsels in pointy hats, ladies in sun-dresses and platform shoes and even won a toy shopping spree at a nearby department store for her drawing of Abraham Lincoln for a President’s Day contest. Her love of art continued throughout school, and she relished schoolwork assignments that required dioramas, posters or drawings. In high school, she took every possible art elective provided through the public school system. Unfortunately, the possibility of art as a career was never posed to Heather and there was little encouragement for her to continue on that path. She was soon forced to abandon her artistic endeavors after the birth of her first child when Heather was only 15 years old.
Nearly 15 years later, a few years after the birth of her second daughter and along with the encouragement of her husband Robert, Heather was finally able to pursue art again. She drew and painted; rediscovered photography, and became involved with community theatre, particularly promotional materials, props and art direction. During that time, she experienced a personal renaissance and began an ongoing exploration of the insecurities and self-criticism endured by young women bombarded with messages to conform to unrealistic ideals of beauty to earn social status. She also explores themes of sexuality that are sometimes challenging to local standards of public display.
The production side of theatre’s stressful and ephemeral nature left Heather a bit depleted, so she changed gears and transferred that energy to reviewing theatre and photographing shows for publicity. In 2002 this culminated in her arts website Allzah.com, which she designed and maintained technically with Robert. For two years she wrote and provided photography and graphics for Allzah.com until the demand for reviews became too great for her and her volunteer staff. She had already begun to move forward with some artistic endeavors, so Heather closed the site down to new reviews in 2004 and decided to pursue art and writing full-time. Allzah.com has since morphed into a portal for Heather’s various web endeavors.
During a friend’s summer party, Heather met and quickly became involved with artist and writer William Hardy, both romantically and collaboratively. She was eventually able to include him in her household with her husband and daughters. Her unusual family structure provides much additional inspiration for her art and writing.
In the past five years, Heather has pursued figural and portrait photography, written art and social criticism, and increasingly explored sculptural work, including ceramics and mixed media constructions. Among her works are publicity photos and posters for Port Tobacco Players, Hard Bargain Players and the 2007 DC Fringe Festival; a small mixed-media representation of Charles County featured prominently on the cover of Maryland Life Magazine; and a relief carving “Great Mother Oak” for the Wye Oak Art Project for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources-a work that was denied exhibition for its controversial subject. She is currently pursuing a photographic series of nudes exploring body consciousness. She is also working on a fantasy series of photographs and digitally altered fairy art for an imaginative photographic book of magical creatures. Heather is also continuing with her highly collectible shoe watercolors and will be offering exclusive designs through Corner Studio Artworks in La Plata, Maryland.
Heather and artist Tammy Vitale have embarked on a project titled Body Politics. Body Politics is art that questions beauty standards and the pressures that men and women face every day to alter their appearance to meet the standard.
Heather invests herself in the local arts community and promotes art in Southern Maryland, is a member of the Charles County Arts Alliance and lobbys county commissioners for increased funding and accommodation for the arts. She has donated work for fundraising auctions for various causes, including Children’s Aid Society and Zonta.
Heather is the co-creator and administrator of the Charles County Café, an online community centered on political and news issues with a local flavor; maintains her personal blog, the Goddess Chronicles, on issues of womens’ rights, environmentalism, human rights, plus-size politics, family welfare, relationships, eating disorders, and art. Heather is developing an online store at Heather Bartlett Art where she also maintains a blog devoted to her art endeavors.
