October is Energy Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness, Cyber Security Awareness, Mental Illness Awareness, Polio Awareness, National Head Start Awareness, Disability Awareness, and Domestic Violence Awareness month. I had no idea October was such an aware month until I double checked Domestic Violence awareness just before beginning this blog post. I knew about Domestic Violence Awareness because Lora and I have been doing some work for Safehouse of Shelby County, and we’ve been working to help keep Safehouse working to protect family members and victims.
About a year ago, Lora was surfing the net and turned to me while I was working at the bench and asked if I would mind wearing high heels. I just looked at my khaki cargo shorts and told her that I didn’t think that they’d go with my outfit. I mean heels with cargo shorts would just make me look trashy :O). It turns out that she had found an organization called Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, where men walk one mile in high heels to raise money for women’s charities and spread awareness of domestic violence and it’s impact on our communities. And, she wanted to know if I would be interested in starting this here in our speck of the world. We had already been doing some fundraising for Safehouse. Lora had served on the board a few years ago and made pendants that we still sell to raise funds for them.
Sooooo, next thing I know our friend and local podiatrist, Dr. Charles Oehrlein, who had a great sense of humor throughout, was helping us get the ball rolling. And, it was always fun to tell people that our Podiatrist is sponsoring men walking in high heels, and next we have a peanut brittle eating contest sponsored by the local dentists.
Really, my part was easy. I was just the eye candy for the event. We actually had people who work better in groups than me doing all of the hard stuff. No, I just put on my shoes like a man, and posed for the photographer. Lora had the hardest part of the whole event. She had to give her testimony, which brought a few tears to the crowd, and it was not an easy thing to do. We were all proud of her, and it gave a little insight to why we are so driven to help with this issue.
We managed to raise $22500, and had hundreds of men showed up. Marines, vets from Afghanistan, several police departments, Senators, Reps, Firemen, business men, artists, and “real men” from all over the county. Men who wanted to make a stand against the scum of our gender that feel the need to control and harm our fairer sex.
Repunzel's Escape: Copper, sterling silver, and turquoise.
So, when we were going over things that we could do to raise awareness during October, I started planning this cuff.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/CosmicFolklore/3969117
I started with the idea of using the form of a shackle, a cuff-like restraint used to enslave people. I knew that this would mean hinges and a hasp-like clasp for it, and I was excited to get to make a more mechanical piece. I also included etching, forging, lapidary, soldering, and rivets for an interesting weave of techniques. The most time consuming was surfacing the piece. I use different grades of sanding and polish to give a variety of light plays on the surface, similar to working with paint surfaces, high-gloss, gloss, matte, etc…
The piece was also coated with a micro thin layer of Renaissance Wax. This is merely to seal the surface. In watching the discussions of copper and sealants on Ganoksin’s forums, I know that there is absolutely no way to permanently seal copper to prevent tarnish 100%. I make no claims that it won’t tarnish. In fact, I have planned for it to tarnish with the way it is surfaced. However, the wax works amazingly well in slowing down this process. In fact on some of the pieces that I have that are five years old that were treated with this wax, still retain their bright penny-like surface, but I also know that these pieces have survived because they haven’t gotten the wear and tear that they would get from constant wear. But, this doesn’t matter to me. As soon as any metal piece is finished, it starts its slow decline back to its source, and I make no pretense to stop it. It’s a living thing, and all I tell my patrons is to treat it as such.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/CosmicFolklore/3969117
The form of the shackle is very cylindrical, which reminds me of a section of a tower, so I pulled back out a theme that I used to use, Repunzel, the captured dame with amazing cysteine residue growing abilities. The filamentous biomaterial queen. The long-haired captive of that little troll-like man Rumpelstiltskin.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/CosmicFolklore/3969117
The window in the tower has the bars bent back, showing that she’s escaped. And, using a symbolic device from stories as revealed in Japanese woodcuts, the flowers signify that she has escaped while still in full bloom of life.
I and many friends and family members have been affected by domestic violence. It is a contagious disease in our culture. And, it is our job as human beings to do what we can to stop it and prevent it from spreading.
One in four women will experience domestic violence(DV) in their lifetime.
1.3 million women will experience DV at some point in their lifetime by an intimate partner.
85% of DV vitems are women, and men, strong men, can fall victim.
Women, 20-24 are at the greatest risk.
Most cases of DV are never reported to police.
The cost of DV on society is around 5.8 billion dollars a year.
Physical, mental, and sexual abuse all fall into the range of DV.
For more statistics on DV, go here.
As men, we should not tolerate this behavior, as it tarnishes the way society sees us. Let’s clean up our neighborhoods and help rid this disease from society. And, get involved. We can all make a difference.
Latest posts by michaeljohnson (see all)
- On Cosmic Success… - July 28, 2013
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Latest posts by michaeljohnson (see all)
- On Cosmic Success… - July 28, 2013
- Why Flowers? - February 28, 2013
- Comet and Cosmic Dust - January 28, 2013
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Aw Shucks! Thank you, Kathy! But you guys at Safehouse do the real work, and beautiful work. Thank you for all that you do to stop DV.
Michael, you do not give yourself enough credit because you were such an important part of the success of our inaugural Walk A Mile In Her Shoes! And we are so thankful to have men like you standing with us to fight domestic violence. The artistry and detail in this cuff are truly amazing and the symbolism is so moving and inspirational. And it is even more beautiful in person!
Thank you Maureen. Yes, the shoes compliment the hat well too, ha ha! 🙂
Lora, thank you,
And you are MY inspiration 🙂
Thank you,
But, it would be a stretch to say that I organized the event. There were so many great people brought together that actually did way more than me.
Yes, without Lora, I am just a monkey banging on a piece of metal with a hammer 🙂
Michael this cuff is incredible. It has such strong meaning and symbolism and is an beautiful work of art. This piece should be seen and touched in person to feel the power. I am very proud of you for making this to make awareness for domestic violence. You talent and creativity always amazes me everyday.
Domestic Violence effects so many women, men and children. I made wrong choices when I was a young woman in my twenties and suffered from extreme emotional and sexual abuse. I am so very lucky to have pulled my bars apart and escaped my Repunzel tower and I have grown into a strong woman. You have helped make me in so many ways become the independent strong woman that I am today. The vines and flowers are such a perfect interputation of how some one can grow into a beautiful strong independent person.
Michael this cuff is incredible. It has such strong meaning and symbolism and is an beautiful work of art. This piece should be seen and touched in person to feel the power. I am very proud of you for making this to make awareness for domestic violence. You talent and creativity always amazes me everyday.
Domestic Violence effects so many women, men and children. I made wrong choices when I was a young woman in my twenties and suffered from extreme emotional and sexual abuse. I am so very lucky to have pulled my bars apart and escaped my Repunzel tower and I have grown into a strong woman. You have helped make me in so many ways become the independent strong woman that I am today. The vines and flowers are such a perfect interputation of how some one can grow into a beautiful strong indepentant person.
This is so inspirational!! I love the bracelet, I love the event you organised!! You both sound like amazing people. You have certainly brightened my day, thank you 🙂
first of all – love the RED shoes – they go really well with the lawnmower! seriously, a wonderful post for a great cause and your cuff is amazing! love all the detail you added and the significance of each part. beautiful work.
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