The Challenge: to gather artistic impressions from past, current and fictional experience. I have chosen an avatar who is able to travel through time and space without the pain of passing through the metal detectors at ORD or the need to eat, drink or blend in. Her back story will gather detail as the project progresses, but there are some details available for the first piece. The research notes for creation of these pieces will be stored off-line. They will serve as material for later use, as needed.
Avatar: Inga MacGuinan, a 37 year-old swede married to a Scotsman, settled in Chicago but originally from Sundbyberg, SV. She is a trained singer and amateur artist using pen and ink. She has a special interest in women artists. She is from a humble background, but her wealthy merchant husband (also from the lower ranks) has opened her eyes to the world where an artist might have a patron or be able to sell works or be paid for performing. Few women participate in this artistic world and Inga is still quite dependent upon her husband for any independence she is granted. As she moves through these pieces, she will still bring her mindset along, but she may change as she experiences new ideas, is exposed to new cultures and people.
UPDATE: I decided to keep to a Chicago setting with Inga, but continue the piece over time. Instead of having her travel she will meet visitors one of whom will be from India who is a visitor at the 1893 Columbian Exposition and the Parliament of Religions. I ran into difficulties with Siem Reap because the Wats were in disrepair at the end of the 19th century and China was equally unknown other than the difficulties between the UK and China over the tea trade.
The 5 (not so easy) pieces:
Sunday is set in 1877/Lincoln Park and the new Lily Pond and the greenhouses.
Monday is 1887 and includes a visit to the lavish Marshal Field Shopping Emporium
Tuesday is set in 1891 the day before Inga's wedding, some progress on the conservatory
Wednesday will take place in 1893 after an encounter at the almost complete Lincoln Park Conservatory with a very grand Raja, Swami Vivekenanda from India who is visiting for the Parliament of Religions.
Thursday takes place in 1895, there is an opening gala for the new Lincoln Park conservatory, complete with fireworks an art exhibit and featuring a singing student of Inga's. Followed by LPC in 2017 at the ceremony to dedicate the new space. The narrator will be Inga and Samuel's great, great granddaughter who has been reading Inga's diaries.
Saturday wrap up and thoughts on the process.
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