Gary Spotlights
SELENA JARDINE

http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Selena_Jardine/www

Title: Woman with Red Hair

"This figure exemplifies the luxury and elegance of the Gilded Age. Herter framed the unidentified model's swanlike neck, taut profile, and abundant mass of hair against a lavishly ornamented background that echoes the rich embroidery of her dress; the gossamer filaments attaching the sleeve to the bodice exhibit a refined sensitivity to the exquisitely handcrafted garments of privilege. The painting's format recalls portraiture of the Italian Renaissance, a common aim of turn-of-the- century American artists, revealing their lofty aspirations.

"Not strictly a portrait, the painting represents the spirit of art in all its beauty, complexity, and craftsmanship. Herter, like other artists of the period, also made decorative art objects, designing and executing tapestries at the Herter Looms in America with craftsmen brought over from France. The palette of this work is jewel-like and emphasizes the surface pattern just like textiles. "

- she burst upon the ASSD/ASSM scene and made herself at home. She flirts, she smiles, and she contributes to the tapestry with threads of silver and gold. I can finally send you to a web page, and I can give links to her stories: "Home Safe" and "Curtains" are my kind of stories; stories that warm the bilges of my "Rom/cons" heart. I have no qualms about recommending them, and recommending that you watch for anything from her in the future.