“Bloody Jesus” by Byron Keith Byrd

Byron Keith Byrd

I have had numerous group and solo exhibitions of my paintings, drawings, sculptures, and art-constructions nationwide in leading and cutting-edge galleries, as well as several select museums. I strive to provoke and provide opportunities to see society anew by challenging entrenched social mores. Most recently, I have created work that is even more controversial, because I’m tackling the confines and atrocities of organized religion. I have used various other body fluids in my work before, so the inclusion of menstrual blood in my art is a natural progression. As a man who can’t possibly know the experience of menstruation and as an artist working to reveal the damage done by religion, I need only point to the Book of Leviticus, which is the Old Testament’s “rule book,” filled with many references to menstruating women as unclean and saying that any man who touches them or even sits where they’ve sat becomes unclean. There has also been extensive theological discussion about the Virgin Mary, concluding she never menstruated prior to birthing Jesus – without a trace of blood or afterbirth, because both would have tainted her and Him with unholy uncleanliness and sin! If “menstrual art” can help heal the personal shame and confusion women feel about their bodies, I am honored to be part of this exhibit.

“My Mirror” by Phoebe Man

Phoebe Man

In southern part of China, there is a custom to eat red eggs to celebrate a baby born. I combined the red eggs with sanitary napkins to stress the relationship of menstruation and reproductive ability of women. Arranging these 2 materials into blossoming flowers is to show my positive attitude towards the naturalness of these bodily functions.

The mirror is to invite audience to come closer to be with the works and celebrate the bodily functions together. However, from my own experience, audience usually had great change of their facial expression, some even said “Disgusting!” when they came closer to my work and realize what the materials were. Why did people’s attitude towards the works change so fast?

Monthly period is still a stigma in Chinese society. It is regard as unlucky and dirty. Why? This is something I want to question through my work.

The work “My Mirror” is inspired by my anxiety of period when I was a student. I wanted to enjoy sexual pleasure but unfitted for marriage and had babies. It was a nightmare when the period came late, moreover, I needed to hide my anxiety and my sanitary napkins. “Why do I need to do so?” I asked myself. These experiences made me think of raising the issue and to generate more discussion on the issue.

“The Lost Ones” by Nichole Speciale

Nichole Speciale

The Lost Ones is a group of 9 small hoops embroidered with white embroidery thread dyed with menstrual blood. The project seeks to bring attention to the gendered practice of embroidery and the shaming of the female body. Thread has for many decades has been associated with feminine home craft, and has often been disregarded as a legitimate art making medium. In its simplest interpretation, thread is a continuous line. Thread like the womb is absorptive; it reflects its environment. It creates new forms from its own tissue. The Lost Ones connects the womb to this gendered material, allowing the thread to act as a conduit for the womb’s unused material. The project, on a more social level, works to expose the artist’s own female body, revealing an otherwise obscured material that is lessened to that of excrement, even though it is a material responsible for creation of life. The depicted fetus shapes serve as reminders for the potential held in the menses.

For more information, visit www.wideningthecycle.com. For questions, please email the curator and exhibit planner, Jen Lewis, at info [at] wideningthecycle [dot] com.