THE COLOR OF BONE - SHELLIE FLEMING
I am the keeper of a piece of artwork made by the beloved Shellie Fleming. “The Color of Bone” was installed in SAIC’s Sullivan Gallery in the Fall of 2012. After ten years of storing the installation, I have decided to disperse the components to Shellie’s friends and former students. If you are interested in owning a small portion of “The Color of Bone” please keep reading.
BACKGROUND
Shellie passed away in late 2013. I received a call, a call she told me to one day expect. I had a key to her home already. I drove from Cincinnati, and packed my car with most of the boxes of the installation - as I recall I made two trips up to get everything. I also was able to take a house plant - an asparagus fern. That still lives today. Beforehand, we had discussions about what might happen to “The Color of Bone,” but she wasn’t very particular. There were even talks of me continuing it, but that didn’t feel quite right.
For almost ten years I have stored this work. I feel honored and a bit overwhelmed sometimes. I miss Shellie deeply, and am touched that she trusted me with this. I initially hoped that SAIC would acquire the entire work, but only a few of the materials will go into the archives. (Which is wonderful, thank you to everyone who helped me with this!)
This leaves boxes and boxes of masks and screens. I finally decided, since the work will not stay intact, that I think Shellie would appreciate that these materials she so delicately created should be dispersed all over the world to the people who loved her.
Shellie included documentation of “The Color of Bone” in a book that she made:
PROCESS
Shellie would look at the New York Times newspaper everyday and pick one image. She would cut it out and collage it to a corresponding mask for that day (there are 365 masks total, one for each day). She would then photograph the mask. The pictures were then made into a video. And these video slideshows were loaded onto small photo display screens. There are 53 screens, roughly one for each week. The masks and pictures were not the final work - it was the installation of the screens in the gallery - all playing simultaneously. That was the work. The masks and images are just part of the process. She did this for I think 8 years. So each mask has roughly eight images collaged on top of each other.
FINDING THE COLOR OF BONE A NEW HOME
These are the things that I have:
- 366 masks (one for each day of the year plus leap year)
- 53 screens (with a pre-loaded slide show of images)
- A manila file for each day of the year, with hand written notes listing the New York Times photos/article that she had collaged onto the mask. Some of the files are empty but some contain images she had not yet collaged. She did the project for roughly eight years, and it is remarkable how long she kept up with this project.
LOGISTICS
If you are interested in receiving a part of this artwork, you will be sent one mask, one screen, one file folder. Once the screens run out, you will just receive a mask and file folder. I am happy to pack everything up - if you could pay for shipping that would be lovely.
The masks and screens will be given out on a first-come first-served basis. Please only request one at this time, to give folks a fair chance of getting one. If after a period of time we have remaining screens and masks, more will be available to you. Please fill out the form below - You may request an exact date - but I can’t promise that mask/date is available. Please list a second option just in case.
I still need to figure out shipping costs and packaging - stand by for more information. I wanted to gauge interest before spending too much time on this part. Once I get an idea of how many masks and screens I will be shipping out, I will email you back with more information. I request that you pay for shipping (I am guessing $20-$30?). You may also donate extra funds to help anyone who cannot afford shipping, as well as any extras for shipping supplies.
If you cannot afford shipping at this time! No problem, hopefully we will get a few donations to help with this cost. Do not let this be a boundary and please fill out the form!
I am not sure the timing on everything so I will not be taking your shipping address just yet. Also, YES, I will ship internationally.
I hope to start shipping things in early 2025, so please fill out the form as soon as you can.
What else? I am sure there are plenty of questions - please reach out! Thank you for helping me find a home for the “The Color of Bone" - Also, please spread the word. Send far and wide to those who loved Shellie.
Thank you,
Jacqueline Wood (SAIC, MFA Film/Video/New Media 2007-2009)
(c.jacqueline.wood at gmail.com)
COLOR OF BONE - MATERIALS REQUEST FORM