Welcome to the Torso Project, a long term collaborative art project, organized by Julie & Matthew Chase-Daniel from 2007-2010.
The Torso Project invited pregnant women to create a living legacy of the mystery, magic, and relationship to nature that the pregnant form represents. The goal of the Torso Project is to empower and support women, men and children during the life changes evoked by pregnancy and birth. Life-cast torsos of women at full-term were created in editions of three. One was given back to the woman from whom it was cast. The second was placed in the wilderness near the location of the birth and left as an offering to the natural world. The third was held by the artists for exhibition of the entire group of torso sculptures. For participants, and through the wilderness placements and public exhibitions, this project invites a new way of experiencing the way we all live as a family of the earth.
In this space we’ve posted some photos from the casting process, the mould-making, the finished sculptures, the new families, and the nature placements.
Enjoy!
A Torso Placement Circle by the Santa Fe River, November 2, 2008
Carrying clay and straw castings down to the riverbank
visiting and eating
Father trying on the pregnant belly
Mother and daughter
Julie speaking at the placement ceremony
Three torsos in the glen by the Santa Fe River
another view
A concrete casting
Baby with his mama’s clay casting
mother and daughter
sleeping baby
fresh clay casting
baby!
Julie finishing a fresh mama mould
2 concrete castings
Matthew making a concrete casting
fiberglass/rubber moulds ready for pouring
a new family
plaster casting, ready for the rubber mould making
moulds drying in the sun after washing
mama and her baby
plaster bandage mould, fresh off a mama
concrete casting outdoors