A note to the reader: With the passing of Gloria Steinem, I pulled out a paper I wrote in 2015 while finishing my BFA at NEIU. Val "Zee" 15 min read · Just now For a class assignment, I compared the 15th anniversary issue of Ms. magazine from 1987, which I had saved for years, with an issue of Ms. from 2015. I haven’t rewritten the paper to reflect what I know or might say differently today. I’m sharing it pretty much as I wrote it then, a snapshot of what I was thinking about as an art...

Growing up in the ’70s I watched my dad take apart broken appliances, figure out the problem, and fix it with a 40-cent screw from Ace Hardware. He taught me how to take things apart, troubleshoot and find solutions. My mom taught me how to sew and to problem solve. So I grew up learning how to mend things — loose buttons, broken appliances, complicated situations, and eventually all the moments that come with single parenting. I was always trying to figure out solutions. I still carry that...

It’s been a while since I’ve written, so let me catch you up. I have always loved working on large surfaces because it feels like freedom — reminds me of the freedom I had when painting walls back in the day. I’m using my whole body when creating large abstractions; letting go! Painted 2010 Small Originals Instead of creating larger paintings, I’ve been doing the opposite — to my surprise I’ve been pulling them apart. It seems that every time I paint or collage a large painting, there are...