Nonney Oddlokken
Artist Statement
My childhood was greatly colored and created by my agoraphobic godmother, my maternal aunt, who co-raised me with my unwed mother. Unlike my mother, who worked as a waitress, my aunt was unable to leave the house due to her mental illness. What could have been a catastrophic environment, instead was turned into a world of magical realism. So colorful was my childhood, it took me until the age of seven before I even realized that my aunt was terrified to leave the house. My entire childhood was filled with her daily magical creations such as baby birds leaving Juicy Fruit gum at the windowsill and a child named Toots that lived in the huge pear tree just outside our screen door. Life was filled with magic and wonder. It is with a mixture of my own childhood memories, Catholic references, Cajun folklore and a sprinkle of New Orleans Voodoo that I’ve created my series Tiny, Little Fables.
My work, always symbolic and allegorical fables, combines the indigenous flora and fauna of Southern Louisiana as well as physical elements such as above ground cemeteries and tombs. I also push and pull on Cajun and Voodoo folktale characters such as Feu Follet, Loup Garou, and Voodoo Queens. My Tiny, Little Fables work together as a whole, but also stand alone.
Technique and Media
I created my own genre which is comprised of stitched thread on paper. The backgrounds are handmade, stitched paper substrates with stitched imagery and collage elements, then embellished with yards of hand stitched gold thread - the symbol of the lifeline that ties us all together. The encircled eye symbolizes the enchanted people and creatures that live among us that we may not see, but always see us.
@threadpaperglue and @tinylittlefables
Nonney’s work was featured in our exhibition, Tiny, Little Fables: The Enchanted, February 7 - August 13, 2020. Enjoy a special preview video that Nonney made especially for this exhibition!
