“Life Is Served"
Life Is Served is a series of assemblages created from bird’s nests, lettered beads, and antique glass serving ware. The collective meaning of the works points to the nature of home, comfort, ancestral wisdom, transitions from childhood to adulthood, and life challenges. Southern Gothic sensibilities coupled with Black Irish-style humor, the works signify romanticism, nostalgia, longing, sarcasm, irony, and anger. The text sewn into the nests focuses on words of wisdom, often heard phrases of advice or warning, and/or responses to situations that may or may not be helpful to the recipient. The series continues her autobiographical works, influenced by her upbringing in the Roman Catholic Church (non-practicing) and the American South, as well as her Irish American heritage. Artistic influences for this series include Dutch still-life painting and ritual religious objects/practices found globally.
Medium & dimensions:
mixed media assemblage (beads, bird's nest, glass)
Bowles’ work has been exhibited nationally in more than 80 solo and group exhibitions and featured in more than 55 national and international literary magazines. She has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Visual Studies Workshop, and the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. She holds an MFA from Ohio University and a BFA from Boston University.
