As a representation of the Earth and the lifeline for everything that surrounds us, Gaia binds our collective. Whether our individual passion is associated with politics, art, feminism, culture jamming, or social justice, we recognize that the root of our practice is inspired by our belief in the value of our home and its living members. Much like the Gaia Theory, we believe that "the Earth and all of its inhabitants, make up a living, self-regulated super-organism." Our individual practices are bound together through a belief that we can be positively contributing members of this system. Through the Gaia icon we can identify the purpose and inspiration for our practice.Our icon is taken from a fresco by Arabisher Maler displayed at the National Museum of Damascus in Syria. The representation is a respectable image of the goddess and for THE MINISTRY OF VOICE, the circular representation recalls the equality amongst all peoples which we strive towards.
Most fittingly, Judy Chicago's 1979 "The Dinner Party," placed the Primordial Goddess at the first seat of the triangular table in Wing I: From Prehistory to the Roman Empire. This reinforces this image as feminist-positive, a central ideological standpoint of our collective. Chicago describes the Goddess as all things coming from, returning to, and being a part of it. The figure embodies a creative energy. Our collective seeks to harness that energy and apply it to our practice.
THE MINISTRY OF VOICE
For more on our inspiration, check out these great sources:
Brooklyn Museum. "Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art: The Dinner Party." http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/home.php
Chicago, Judy. The Dinner Party: From Creation to Preservation. New York: Merrell, 2007.
Lovelock, James. The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A Final Warning. New York: Basic Books, 2010.
