Whitney Lee's a Hooker - Sex~Kitten.net

Taking the photographic images of Playboy starlets and other beauties and working them as the images on latch-hook rugs is more than some cute wall hanging, or floor covering as the case may be. This is an artistic statement.

In her 52-rug series, Cyber Girls of the Week, Playboy models become like the typical subjects of latch-hook rugs, cartoons. Given the same Pooh Bear square faces they question the notion of 'perfect' sexy women. The way latch-hook rugs are done, a strand at the time, also literally blurs the images the closer you get to them. From far away she's a sexy hot babe, but when you get up closer you see less of the 'babe', pushing our boundaries or definitions of beauty, perfection, and sexual availability.

As you walk closer to see more of 'the babe', you also come to terms with the fact that the artwork is 'only just a handmade latch-hook rug', a craft. 'Art' becomes 'craft'. Or is that 'craft' turned 'art'? Really, you could debate that and other issues provoked by Whitney Lee's art all day long. You can do that after you read the interview.

Whitney, how old were you when you learned to hook rugs? I myself was about 12, I think... I picked it up again as an adult, so I am super excited to see real projects for grown-ups!

I too was a kid. I did a kit at 9; it was the only kit I did.

Like the rest of us kids who made latch hook rugs, you grew up. You're now in your late 20's, a professional photographer, but you came back to the rugs. What made you take on the images, the issues, with the rugs?

Like it says in my bio, I am the product of piles of women’s studies and feminist art classes. I can look at almost any image of a woman (especially one from a magazine!) and tell you how she is being objectified, how the lighting, pose, make-up, and airbrush are giving the model a look that is impossible to achieve, and how that makes real women constantly feel physically inadequate. I can talk about 'male gaze' and how images of sexy women make it seem like the entire female gender is one-dimensional and simply waiting for sex.

So your artistic intent was anti what you call Playboy-style soft-core pornography.

Yes. The images were from Playboy.com and represented a plasticky, fake beauty which at that point in my art career I loved to hate. Playboy is not accurate in either bodily form or our desires and I wanted my art to generate conversations about that.

I wasn't completely picking on Playboy. Playboy is honest about itself -- using sex to sell sex to the viewer -- unlike fashion mags which use sex as a selling tool to move products & advertising.

If you wanted to encourage public conversations about beauty from a feminist point of view why not use your profession, photography? Why use the rugs?

As a handmade artworks the rugs are to provoke a reaction against mass-production and consumerism, and I was interested in pointing out the dichotomy between a crafty, 'motherly' type woman and a sexually confident 'slutty' woman. In our society it is nearly impossible for a woman to be both types, but the two should be -- do -- coexist.

You say this "was" your interest... Has it changed?

Somewhat. I learned something along the way...

And what was that?

I was featured in Bust Magazine and one of my first rugs depicted a classical reclining nude, based on a real photograph of Sydney Moon. I intended it to be an anti statement, but Sydney found me, was tickled, and wanted to talk.

Really? Did you?

Well, yes. I was filled with stereotypes of what she would be like... I was thinking things like, "You read Bust?", and worse, "You read?!" But in talking with her I discovered a few things. I've now known her a few years. She's educated (has her masters), is articulate, feminist, respected; she's thinking about what she's doing, and not narcissistic.

You were surprised?

Yes, it surprised me quite a bit. When I was trying to make this point about mainstream beauty I was thinking I was better than these girls because I'm smart. But I was missing things due to this judgemental point of view. I had to be more critical in my thinking. Not just about my art, but about myself. I thought, "I can learn from this." That soft porn body of artwork and Sydney taught me a lot.

Takes ovaries to admit that; not all we brainy types would admit we do or have done that. So you continued to make rugs?

Yes. First I thought about what I was saying/doing with my art. Talks with Sydney and others helped me to see things differently. Everything from the 'beauty vs brains' to the works being rugs and trod upon, the reactions from folks that my rugs were "sweet" and "sexy", about art as historical reference, and how women's art is taken less seriously... I was more critical with myself about what I was doing and how it was being received.

Whitney Lee at Works at Chicago's Gescheidle Gallery

I still dislike the way women are represented in mass media, the fact of that magazines and advertisements make viewers feel bad about themselves just so viewers will purchase a product, but I realized there was more to this.

Is this when you started making the kits?

The kits came once the artwork was finding success. The prices on my pieces were getting so high, $1000 isn't dichotomyaffordable for many. The kits are art, an affordable option; not a novelty item. Having spent time with street art, the idea of kits as allowing for accessability, for people to make a more personal connection, it was exciting.

And you continued to make more art yourself.

Yes, but my vision changed a bit. I'm less 'anti', less pessimistic now. I consider myself a part of a forward-thinking group of women who believes that yeah, there is truth to those beauty issues, but such a negative philosophy also makes me feel guilty about sex and dammit, I like sex.

Sort of like the dichtomoy you spoke about.

Yes. Now the images that I use in my works and the kits are more in line with my politics: I use photographs of self-confident women of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities.

Trashy is a series of works based on latch-hook rugs I find in thrift stores etc. modified digitally and incorporating era-appropriate soft-core nudes. In this way remnants of women's lives and images of women, previously made for men for male consumption, are reclaimed for women.

It's an incredible idea. What are people's reactions to your work? Who is most attracted to it -- are there more men or women at shows?

There are more women than men. And I hear all the time that they've made a latch hook rug from a kit -- "I made an owl with mushrooms!" Men too.

I feared the creeps who'd talk about sex in public, but there are few of those. Most of the talk centers around 'Porn vs Art' and comments like, "Well, what do you think about this?" At my first showpleasantlypleasently surprised they were thinking of my work in a critical discussion-oriented way rather than a 'sweet, hot girls' sort of a way. That continues to be the way -- along with the owl & mushroom kit memories, of course.

As far as you know, who buys more of the art, men or women? And who makes more of the kits?

More women buy kits, but where they end up, I don't know. Men buy them too. Many are likely purchased as gifts etc., so I don't know who makes them... The art pieces, gallery sales seem even.

This brings up the question: Where do you display the pieces? Are there problems with gallery displays, people commenting about 'where to put it?' when they bring it home? Do you display your works in your home? I ask because as a vintage pinup collector, I get grief for putting up my ladies... Do you have problems with your ladies?

I have no problems with it. They are displayed in own home, and my son's OK. I talk to him about it like the "where did I come from" talk, nonchalantly.

In a gallery there's a definite art context, so there's not a problem -- well, once when the big rug was displayed at the Austin Museum of Art a woman displayed her dissent. She was argumentative and blogged about it, made it personal with me, but it's rather hard to take seriously.

Why do you say that?

I'm willing to talk and discuss my work and the issues it brings up but if people are too scared to discuss it, I don't care what they think; unless it would hurt my son's feelings. I don't need to defend myself.

So, what's next Whitney?

I'm working on a new body of work. Related, but different. I'm not ready to talk about it yet,'tilt wait til you see it!

Trashy Latch-Hook Rug Art by Whitney Lee

Whitney wouldn't tell me any more -- other than to say to look for a show in spring and a bigger show this summer. I, for one, can hardly wait to see what she's done now. Meanwhile...

Whitney's works are sold via Chicago's Gescheidle Gallery. And her kits, along with more information on her works, can be found on her website, MadeWithSweetLove.com.

One other note regarding the rug kits, please allow a couple of mfulfilmentullfilment on kit orders. If you have questions or concerns regarding the arrival of your kit, please contact Whitney at her website. (If it's a gift for me, I have no problem waiting *wink*)

Jessica Schoenbaechler has made a documentary of the first meeting between Whitney Lee and Sydney Moon. Called Hooker, it's in post-production. More information can be found here.