Tuesday, October 26, 2021 – WOW!! THE GIRL PUZZLE IS TAKING SHAPE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021
The 504th Edition
“THE GIRL PUZZLE”
BLOOMS IN
LIGHTHOUSE PARK
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“FOLLOW PROMETHIUS ART-AMANDA MATTHEWS & BRAD CONNELL”
ALL IMAGES (C) PROMETHIUS ART
THE REVERSE OF THE NELLIE BLY FIGURE
While working for the New York World, Bly also set a world record for circumnavigation of the earth in 72 days. When told by her manager that it was an impossible trip for a woman, Nellie Bly responded…“Very well, start the man, and I’ll start the same day for some other newspaper and beat him.”
Although her life and legacy include broad professional experience as a journalist, women’s rights advocate, suffragist, WWI correspondent, inventor, patent holder, industrialist, and humanitarian, a common thread for Nellie Bly was that she experienced the plight of those who suffered and powerfully transcribed this reality to the world, who had turned a blind eye.
She moved the needle toward equality and progress. Nellie Bly died on January 27, 1922. The following day, the Evening Journal newspaper carried a tribute by Arthur Brisbane, which read… “Nellie Bly was THE BEST REPORTER IN AMERICA and that is saying a good deal…
She takes with her from this earth all that she cared for, an honorable name, the respect and affection of her fellow workers, the memory of good fights well fought and of many good deeds never to be forgotten by those that had no friend but Nellie Bly. Happy the man or woman that can leave as good a record.”
Here we end where we began, with a quote from Nellie Bly. “I said I could and I would. And I did.
A young girl had been institutionalized in the Blackwell Island Asylum for 4 years. She spoke to Nellie Bly every morning and said, “I dreamed of my mother last night. I think she may come today and take me home.”
Bly’s quote from this young girl represents a palpable brokenness. Such pain and loneliness are apparent as this abandoned child kept clinging to a tinge of hope that her lot in life would change. This face is inspired by my daughter, Audrey, who as a teen, was the subject of an emotionally crippling court case in which she was marginalized.
Her personal story and expressions of incredible pain also fell on deaf ears. Neither protection nor solace could be found as she suffered, while begging to be heard within a flawed legal system.
Advocates who choose to maintain the status quo often fail to protect the innocent. Bly spoke of another girl in the asylum who repeatedly cried, “They always said God made hell, but he didn’t.”
Bly spoke up and affected change. She put herself in danger on many occasions to fully understand those who were suffering. Absent this type of compelling representation, vulnerable members of our society will continue to be abused by those who use their privilege and power as leverage.
Asian American Woman – Original Artist Proof
On the wagon ride to the Blackwell Island Asylum, Bly states “I, as well as my comrades, gave a despairing farewell glance at freedom as we came in sight of the long stone buildings.”
Bly sees the “look of distress on the faces of [her] companions. Poor Women… They were being driven to a prison, through no fault of their own, in all probability for life.”
My dear friend and studio assistant’s mother, Mioko, inspired this face. Of Japanese descent, she is an American by birth, and was only 18 years old in February 1942, when by Executive Order she was moved from her home in Gardena, CA, and taken to the Santa Anita Racetrack to live in a horse stall.
She was later interned to Rohwer—a 500-acre camp surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards, and she was not reunited with her family for years. Mioko recounted this story to me in great detail when she was in her early nineties.
Bly describes “a woman taken without her consent from a free world…” and argues, “Compare this with a criminal, who is given every chance to prove his innocence.” I could not read this passage without thinking of Mioko. She knows the sting of racism, understands the dehumanization of immigrants in America, and the loneliness and alienation of being held against her will under dreadful circumstances by her own government.
Bly “watched patients stand and gaze longingly toward the city they in all likelihood [would] never enter again. It means liberty and life; it seems so near, and yet heaven is not further from hell.” Mioko understands freedom that seems so near, but could not be further from hell.
African American Woman
Nellie Bly resisted being harshly handled by an attendee while she was being admitted to Bellevue hospital. Once freed from his grip, she stated, “I walked with the grace of a queen past the crowd that had gathered, curious to see the new unfortunate.”
Bly describes defending herself against other assaults and with frightening imagery, she depicts the abuse of the helpless women and girls in the Asylum, who “were in the power of their keepers”. Bly says they “could weep and plead for release, and all of no avail, if the keepers were so minded.” These descriptions of anguish and control evoked images for me of the unthinkable treatment of many minority women and their children throughout American history.
My dear friend, Cutia, inspired this face. A strong, intelligent black woman who has dedicated her life to helping others, Cutia endured unimaginable grief when she lost her infant child. She understands deep and abiding loss and the agony of feeling helpless to change a dire situation.
Cutia also knows first-hand the structure of dominance in America and the urgent need to eliminate systemic racism. The emotion in her eyes speaks volumes about the 400-year arc of history, including the pain and trauma endured by generations of human beings.
Similar to Bly in many ways, Cutia transformed her sorrow into passion that ignites her drive for equality, justice, and healing.
Older Woman – in backrgound
The miniature version of the art is next to the large one so a blind prson can feel it and read the Braille description of each work,
While institutionalized in the Blackwell Island Asylum, Nellie Bly read a motto on a wall that said, “While I live I hope.”
Bly stated that “the absurdity of it struck [her] forcibly..” because so many women were unjustly stripped of their freedoms and rights with no hope of ever escaping their fate. They were convicted without “ample trial” for being different, or old, or an immigrant.
This face is inspired by my daughter, Natalie, who is a member of the LGBTQ community. Like many other Americans, she lacks equal representation under the law and lives in fear of being stripped of her freedoms, rights, and protections with every change to the US Supreme Court. This face portrays the hopeful trajectory of her life showing long-lived happiness and a perpetual desire for equality and acceptance of those who exist in the margins.
Nellie Bly witnessed these disparities; and moved by her experiences, she wrote, “Poor girl, how my heart ached for her! I determined then and there that I would try by every means to make my mission of benefit to my suffering sisters…”
Natalie’s likeness is aged forward 50 years, bearing a remarkable resemblance to my mother. It serves as a much-needed tribute to the queer community and to older women, sages who are rarely honored in sculpture for their beauty and wisdom.
TUESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
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MONDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
SPORTSPARK SWIMMING POOL
NOW CLOSED FOR RENOVATION
THOM HEYER, ARON EISENPREISS, ALEXIA VILLAFANE, BRENDA VAUGHAN, LAURA HUSSEY AND NINA LUBLIN GOT IT RIGHT!!
YOU CAN VISIT SPORTSPARK THIS WEEK AND GET IN THE SWIM OF EARLY VOTING!!! THE POLL SITE IS IN THE GYM. ENTER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING OPPOSITE THE GRADUATE HOTEL.
Early Voting Schedule
| Tuesday | October 26, 2021 | 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | October 27, 2021 | 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
| Thursday | October 28, 2021 | 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
| Friday | October 29, 2021 | 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Saturday | October 30, 2021 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | October 31, 2021 | 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
FACEBOOK:
“FOLLOW PROMETHIUS ART-AMANDA MATTHEWS & BRAD CONNELL”
ALL IMANGES (C) PROMETHIUS ART
Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff
FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE GRANTS CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD
Copyright © 2021 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com
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