“If you’re not a confident person, pretend to be one.” - Caitlin Moran
“The Living World of Girls” tells a story not quite as old as time – just as old as the patriarchy! This body of work has been brought to life using a single source of text material: “Dean's Favourite Annual for Girls” (1961) – a British hardcover ‘magazine’ marketed to teenage girls from the Victorian era through the late 1960's (think ‘Seventeen’ magazine). The single source of imagery “The Living World of Animals” (1901) is a comprehensive photographic encyclopedia of the world’s mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects and molluscs. The artwork became happy accident; a circumvention to what could have been a complete nervous breakdown for freelance musician-mother-wife-lover Impala in 2025 resulting in 74 unique visual minimalist collage pieces telling a story; a story that dives earnestly face-first into timeless feminist themes including friendship, the strive for success and independence, internalised misogyny, emotional labor, lovers, breakups, gossip, beauty ideals, work-life balance, education, regret, motherhood, sisterhood and 'play' of all sorts put before you in the most pain-free, hilariously thought-provoking way imaginable.
In person: This frog-legged ‘ribit-exibit’ includes a dress-up station; an adult play area full of thoughtful artifacts and fart-i-facts; found objects, photos, ideas and precious personal treasures to provoke inspiration. Come with your fellow femmes and foes, glammed-out in a bespoke and ridiculous rollercoaster of feminine-frenzy. This is Impala's un-tameably tried, tested and truly tireless survivalist exploration of humanity’s juicy animalistic urges and the essence of what it is to be a young lady, or a forever 'girl' trapped in the body of a woman of any age.
This show is for you to engage in and explore all things related to your feminine expression, no matter your biology; no matter how blue you are, how tickled pink! This body of work has resulted in the further development of a writing workshop available called ‘The Distillary.’ The workshop engages a combination of foraging, haiku, wordplay, metaphor, and modern-day mad-libs that has proven uniquely helpful to those who may feel stuck in their life, luck and art, and undeniably complex human condition. Come! Have a laugh! The clock is ticking. ‘The Living World of Girls’ and the adjacent 4-hour creativity container ‘The Distillary’(with a meal provided), are two distinct experiences for people who enjoy both the sweet and savory; a tasty treat for anyone who would like to have some fun doing 'shadow work' in shared community, untangling themselves in the quiet-but-lively ease of making a handmade thing together, using the simple tools of images, text, humour and above all else, the distilled practice of zen minimalism.
This exhibit will be showing up for two months at 2012 Baltimore, Kansas City MO
the “ReJoy” Gallary, Jerry Woods
A wee sampling of 'The Living World of Girls'
see something you like, write CeraImpala@gmail.com
