Dreaming in a Ralph Lauren Night Shirt, by Maj Kalfus
Artist Statement
When I received the delicate floral shirt for the project, I immediately recognized it as the upper part of a Ralph Lauren pajama set. Rather than seeing a blouse, I envisioned sleeping and dreaming. In dreams we are free to imagine ourselves in unexpected situations…some blissful and some frightening.
The three canvases connote various stages of sleep including REM sleep when most dreams occur. The images represent the dreamer and her images , some repeated, some sweet, some dark. The pajama shirt was used as part of the collage to represent the first stage of light sleep…”pleasant dreams”. I removed some of the color from the original print to keep the top softer and then added a pattern that tied together the composition. The contour-like line drawings, some painted, some applied are to reveal indistinct dream-like musings.
Artist Statement
When I received the delicate floral shirt for the project, I immediately recognized it as the upper part of a Ralph Lauren pajama set. Rather than seeing a blouse, I envisioned sleeping and dreaming. In dreams we are free to imagine ourselves in unexpected situations…some blissful and some frightening.
The three canvases connote various stages of sleep including REM sleep when most dreams occur. The images represent the dreamer and her images , some repeated, some sweet, some dark. The pajama shirt was used as part of the collage to represent the first stage of light sleep…”pleasant dreams”. I removed some of the color from the original print to keep the top softer and then added a pattern that tied together the composition. The contour-like line drawings, some painted, some applied are to reveal indistinct dream-like musings.
Artist Statement
When I received the delicate floral shirt for the project, I immediately recognized it as the upper part of a Ralph Lauren pajama set. Rather than seeing a blouse, I envisioned sleeping and dreaming. In dreams we are free to imagine ourselves in unexpected situations…some blissful and some frightening.
The three canvases connote various stages of sleep including REM sleep when most dreams occur. The images represent the dreamer and her images , some repeated, some sweet, some dark. The pajama shirt was used as part of the collage to represent the first stage of light sleep…”pleasant dreams”. I removed some of the color from the original print to keep the top softer and then added a pattern that tied together the composition. The contour-like line drawings, some painted, some applied are to reveal indistinct dream-like musings.
Item Information
The original item was purchased by one of your curators at a local thrift store on 30th street and 3rd ave in New York City.
The original piece was made in New York, and the artist reworked it in Conneticut.
[Please note that this piece was shipped to Conneticut and back to New York City during the production process]
Measurements:
Height: 24 in
Length: 33 in
Depth: 3 in
Materials:
Ralf Lauren Sleep Shirt (100% Cotton)
3 canvases
Acrylic paint
Fine point marker
Pen and ink
Fabric glue
Spray adhesive
Paper
Gorilla glue