Janis Updike Walker

As an only child, my world revolved around my magical grandmother. Using textiles carefully saved, she taught me embroidery. My fascination with fabrics grew with each passing year.

Retirement freed me to pursue training in art and refine my artist’s palette. Embroidery became my narrative. I now create hand-stitched fiber collage. I search for vintage fabrics, transforming cast-off scraps of velvet, silk, and lace into new designs. I hope to reinterpret needlework, not simply as women’s handiwork but as a time-honored creative expression. I aspire to elevate embroidery on the continuum from hobby to craft to art.

I look to several authors for inspiration. In Sacred Contracts, Carolyn Myss uses the language of archetypes to describe aspects of personality. In her book, Goddess in Every Woman, Jungian analyst, Jean Shinoda Bolen, interprets the ancient feminine form to describe the aspects of femininity. I developed a greater understanding of the profound influence these characteristics play in shaping my life. A four-year study of Creative Strength Training with Jane Dunnewold opened new paths of creative archetypal expression. Myss identifies Goddess as one archetypal choice. The light attributes of Goddess inspire women, relying on her wisdom and sensuality for guidance. The shadow side of Goddess emerges if she exploits her feminine power. Myss says if I have Goddess as an archetype, my challenge is to review my associations with all aspects of being feminine.

Looking back over my lifetime, I claim Goddess as one of my strongest archetypes. In each decade, Goddess has worn many faces and assumed new roles. As a child, I borrowed aspects of Persephone. Entering adulthood, I relied upon Aphrodite as a woman and lover. When I became a mother, I assumed aspects of Demeter. In marriage I was Hera, the Wife and Queen partner. I called upon Athena, the warrior and craftswoman, in my professional life. In this chapter, I have ascended as Matriarch of my family. Now I rely upon Hestia, wise woman, keeper of the Hearth.

My hand-embroidered collage depicts Aphrodite, Goddess of creativity and good fortune. She embodies wisdom, grace, power and sensuality.

Aphrodite 2022 28” x 9.5” Needlework NFS janisupdikewalker@gmail.com