HUMAN PROPERTY NEVER AGAIN CHILDHOOD DIVINITY
The R†BELLE Series

[This series began in 2014 and is ongoing.]

  The R†BELLE Series is a collection of photographic illustrations featuring individuals in their magnificent presence as legendary heroines, visionaries, social activists, artists, poets, scientists, philosophers, and more. The series supports the broadest, genuinely inclusive, and empowering definition of “woman”, and gives tribute to incredible, historical womyn who had influence; expressed themselves; spoke up; persevered; bore shame; held fierceness; portrayed compassion; exhibited compassion; represented; rose in opposition; resisted oppression; changed the norm; broke barriers; and, shaped and paved the way.

  Certainly, courage and strength are resourced in the character of these remarkable womyn.  R†BELLE serves to honor their sovereignty, as well as to uplift and strengthen any individual who has experienced the disempowerment of sexism, abuse, sexual violence, male privilege, chauvinism, objectification, manipulation, dominance, and suppression.

  The creative concept of the series presents as the frontcover of a fictitious magazine. Each cover is intentionally devoid of text, names or titles for reference, in order to allow the essential impact made by these womyn to speak for itself. Why a magazine cover? Much like familiar magazines which might draw your attention... imagine R†BELLE among them. Spontaneous attraction is fundamental to this contemporary art series. Re-approriated artwork provides familiarity and recognizability to the viewer. Tremendous respect, gratitude, and acknowledgment is given to the artist (if known) of the original photograph/artwork.

  R†BELLE was produced to empower and to honor the unsuppressable essence of "Womanhood"-- as expressed in all its identities. It is a celebration of the many notable aspects of The Collective Feminine.

Eve - 2014 (original painting attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder)
Amelia Earhart - 2014 (original photograph by New York Times Co./Getty Images)
Frida Kahlo - 2014 (original photograph by Imogen Cunningham)
Georgia O'Keeffe - 2017 (original photograph by Laura Gilpin)
Patti Smith - 2016 (adaptation of original photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe, and Georgia O'Keeffe's 'Black Iris')
Marsha P. Johnson - 2017 (original photograph by unknown)
'Little Edie' / Edith Beale - 2014 (adaptation of still from Albert and David Maysles' film, 'Grey Gardens')
Princess Leia - 2016 (original photograph from Lucas Films)
Coco Chanel - 2014 (original photograph by Man Ray)
Yoko Ono - 2014 (adaptation of original photograph by Bob Gruen)
Rosa Parks - 2014 (original photograph from USIA/National Archives)
Mae West - 2014 (original photograph is a filmstill from 'She Done Him Wrong')
Maya Lin - 2017 (adaptation of original image by Walter Smith)
Malala Yousafzai - 2014 (adaptation of original photograph by Antonio Zazueta Olmos)
Pocahontas - 2014 (original painting attributed to Jean Leon Gerome Ferris)
Tina Turner - 2014 (adaptation of original photograph by "JAT")
Jodie Foster - 2014 (original photograph by Bradley Patrick)
Lucille Ball - 2014 (original photograph from Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Pema Chödrön - 2019 (original photograph from Omega Institute)