Dear Readers, In 2011, Suzy and I had a simple vision: to create a unique platform for our friends and ourselves to share thoughts, ideas, and doodles. When we began Yes, Ma’am, we had to badger our friends to send us stuff, hand-cut and paste images and text into the booklet, and print issues in the middle of the night so as not to attract attention (we were abusing our university printing priveleges). Four and a half years later and we are still badgering our friends to send us stuff (now we also get many voluntary submissions) and secretly printing at the university library. Although we have graduated to using high-tech fancy computer stuff to create the book, our mission has never changed. For our fans that have been there from the beginning: Thanks a billion for the continued support. If this is the first issue of Yes, Ma’am that you’ve ever opened, welcome to our world. Cheers, Elle Minter
issue 9 contributors Soe Yu Nwe Claudia Zapata Michael Menchaca Jia Sung Dolores Valles Sydney Parrish Alli Rogers Thilanka Jayaweera
Material Studies Specimens: Femininity Title: Nayoung’s Shelter: Hands Soe Yu Nwe, in collaboration with Nayoung Jeong Porcelain nipple as inclusion in glass 2.25” x 2.25” x 0.8” 2014 ln this experiment, I collected remnant porcelain pieces from Nayoung Jeong’s Thesis Installation and created specimen studies by inserted them into hot glass as its inclusion bodies. The porcelain chips were casted from nipples of mothers and mothers-to-be to symbolize maternity, nurturance and perhaps the cusp of entering womanhood or motherhood. Because of the difference in coefficient of expansion, the ceramic breaks the glass during the annealing process. I repaired and polished the broken pieces into material study specimens to collaboratively explore the idea of feminine spaces and notions of displacement in conversation with Nayoung’s work. The fragmentation in glass caused by the ceramics also expressed the idea of internal violence between the glassy space and the encapsulated ceramic nipple. Through the poetic material expression of the destructive interaction between glass and ceramic resulted from the union, I also wish to subtly express the notion of violence in pacifying and displacing femininity.
Material Studies Specimens: Femininity Title: My Braid Soe Yu Nwe Human hair as inclusion in glass 3.5� x 7.24� x 0.75� 2014 In this piece, I cut a braid of my hair as a gesture to unbelong the regenerative part of myself and used it as inclusion in hot glass to explore the idea of loss, memory and the female sentimentality. The heat of the hot glass destroyed the physicality of the hair and the melted glass in turn buried its ash. I realize that this process of losing the form but preserving its remains has become itself a gesture of holding tight to past grief.
Title: Dialectics of Self Soe Yu Nwe, in Collaboration with Jungmok Lee Ceramics, glass, rope, drawing and photograph installation 2015 This two-person installation surveyed two female artists experienced and expressed notions of a woman’s body. After Jungmok Lee created replicas of her torso, both Soe Yu and Jungmok utilized the replicated artifacts to communicate their sentiments towards the body through reflective and reflexive approach.
Claudia Zapata Slaves in Focus: William Lee Digital image 2015 This is a an ongoing series of recapturing slaves in historical and modern art paintings where such figures primarily served as supplemental iconography to another central figure. This image is an edited version of John Trumbull’s historical painting of George Washington and his main servant William Lee. The objective in this endeavor is to reassert the slave figures in these compositions as individual people and not accoutrements to display central figure’s wealth.
Jia Sung jia-sung.com
It’s My Hood and It’s Where the Rainbow begins By Dolores Valles For those of you who Don’t know me Mi Nombra es Dolores I’m from East San Anto My streets molded me into a Ride-Or-Die Chick locking my doors and watching my back listening to footsteps as I clench my purse but it’s my hood and it’s where the rainbow begins Broken sidewalks like broken dreams A mothers tears flood the curbs side Kids jacking the bikes off my porch for the thrills Drug addicts sell their bodies for that astral projection experience but it’s my hood and it’s where the rainbow begins Trash tumbling down the asphalt just to end up on my lawn Rattles of chicharras reminding me it’s going to be another hot summer day Elders sit at the bus stop hoping their meat don’t spoil A broke man trying to sell me a stolen chain in the parking lot but it’s my hood and it’s where the rainbow begins.
Sydney Parrish @squidoutofwater
Good Intentions and Needlepoint Genealogy 1 are digital images of objects in a body of work reflecting on the creations of genealogies, the mythologies of family histories, and the items and traditions of making representative of womanhood. I explore the tools and materials handed down to me by the women of my family and remix them to explore family mythology’s intersections with my identity as a woman. Alli Rogers
Needlepoint Geneaology 1
Good Intentions
Title: Blindfold Thilanka Jayaweera Drawing 2016 thilanka-jaya.com
Kimchi Fried Rice Vegan, Gluten-free Serves 2 generously 3 cups cooked rice, refrigerated at least 2 hours (overnight recommended) 2 carrots, chopped 1/2 white onion, chopped 2 cups frozen edamame 1 1/2 cups kimchi, sliced (if from a jar, reserve the liquid) 1/4 cup olive oil 3-4 green onions, sliced 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds Sauce: Reserved liquid from kimchi (about 1/3 cup) 1/4 cup tamari 1-2 Tbsp Korean gochujang paste Directions: 1. Heat olive oil in large skillet or wok over med-high heat. Since the rice will have to cook for a long time, this is what you want to start with. Make sure all of the rice is coated in olive oil and has contact with the pan at least most of the time. Stir until rice starts crisping. 2. While the rice is cooking, prepare the sauce making sure the gochujang paste completely dissolves. 3. Once rice is mostly cooked, add carrots, onion, frozen edamame, and kimchi. Stir 3 min then add the sauce. 4. Continue to stir until carrots are cooked and sauce has reduced. 5. Serve hot topped with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds!
Issue 9 Brought to you by: Elle Minter & Suzy Gonzalez Wanna contribute? Send your articles, lists, photos, rants, raves, drawings, cartoons, interviews, comix, or anything that inspires you in a feminist way to Yes.Maam27@gmail.com Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or on the web at yesmaam27.com
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