fertile 2024
Woman of Willendorf - 25,000 years old.
“The rise of art in the history of humanity corresponds to the last evolutionary phase in the brain's development that in which the neuropsychological activities of the frontal lobe became predominant.”
In this 1992 essay by French neurologist, Roger Vigouroux goes on to say, “The very first traces can be found in the tools of Homo erectus and, later in the few pieces of jewelry made by the Neanderthals and the works of the Cro-Magnons, in which we recognize ourselves.’
Vigouroux continues, “Is it not true that every creation contains evidence of the sequence of events involved in the evolution of the species? Every work seems to have a meaning that is connected somewhere along the line with the productive activities of the animal species or of the ancestors who preceded us on the road to hominization.”
He posits that there are four stages of the brain’s development: Behavioral (including sexuality); Gestural; Rational thought, and the fourth stage, that of Aesthetic feeling which acquires an autonomous existence. "At this moment art — which was associated with the sacred and writing — breaks free from these ties and exists in its own right.”
Perhaps this is an awkward introduction to how we approach fecundity and fertility. Art making is fertile perception. Fertility is abundance. We see it powerfully in the sheer physical and earthed energy in the Woman of Willendorf. From my view, she represents both the underworld and the outer realms. She is anchored to the earth —full, fecund and potent.
Glacial Venus.
2022 © Caterina Verde
Do we perceive all the levels of abundance? Or perhaps the better question: How do we perceive abundance? It exists in our ability to make art and the action of making work gives personal and transpersonal hope outside of current blandly accepted societal modalities that we are perpetually squeezed into…whether it is the mall and codified shopping, driving, working nine to five, and the mono culture of branded identities that spreads across the earth. Maybe we need new rituals to take us away from Dunkin' Donuts (not including the people who work there), and other entities that would have us work for minimum wage, telling us that it’s all good. Perhaps the donut and its hole, with pink iced glazing and sprinkled shots represents another kind of fetish of fertility, with empty calories maybe, but you have to say, it is does have its eye candy attraction — ritual surrounds it and summons us.
Caterina Verde,
January 2024, Ridgewood, NY
In an ideal world, 12 donations of $1,000 each would be, oh, so perfect. But of course we are as flexible as the brain we carry within our crania or craniums (both are correct) — donations of any size are welcome.
If you are feeling abundant, and have more than enough for what it is that you need and you feel like making a gesture to help Peat and Repeat keep stretching our minds and brains, we ask you to join us and be part of this equation.
Just as startups take time to develop, and since art is a technology, a medium, a transducer, a coder, a programming machine, a meditation device, a pollinator, a verb, a password, a resting place, an escape route, and a million other unnamable things, we're asking for risk takers who would consider angel grants on our behalf.
For those of you who have applied for grants, you will know that many if not most grant givers want to know that support is coming in many forms. A bit of a conundrum at times but that’s why your support is so important for us.
Peat and Repeat started with just a small amount of personal savings -- it’s an evolving and changing platform. Please feel free to communicate, to correspond, share your ideas, write a post.
If you made it this far, Thank you!!
PLEASE HELP US TO RAISE $12,000 for our operating and special projects for 2024.
Six artist books
Artists’ project support
Operating costs and online platforms
Printing costs
Traveling van
Take on two new artists
Coming up — In mid-January, we are hosting an online auction to benefit Woodbine for their 10th Anniversary.
Over the next two months, we will publish an interview with Elke Luyten, an essay on Jack Greene, an essay by Carter Ratcliff on Francine Hunter McGivern, an essay by Meredith Finkelstein, and interviews with Anna Sang Park, Daniel Rothbart and others. We will also do an open call for essays.
Interview with Elke Luyten - coming up.