Dangerous Series

The concept for this series is based on the artists past, present, and future. “Dangerous” is inviting you to take look at yourself and ask if you like the monster you’ve become?

In November of 2013 I wrote a paper on art therapy called “Creative Arts for Healing.” One of the quotes about art therapy that stuck with me is the mission statement of the The American Art Therapy Association, Inc “dedicated to the belief that making art is healing and life enhancing.” (“American Art,” 2008) The concept for the series is based on my past, present, and future. The attitude that women are made for using and abusing would be the basis for almost every relationship I have had. After letting guys treat me horribly, I finally starting to stand up for myself.

The series together I call “Dangerous” and have split it into two halves. The first half is called “Surrender/Corrupt” and depicts my past. The second half “Dominator” and the work reflects the present, taking control of the situation and the things that happen to me. More importantly, it empowers me and begins to provide a perspective on what will happen in my future. I’ve learned that although a painting of a bowl of fruit or a puppy might be pretty, it does not saying anything. It does not move your soul unless the puppy is late personal pet. This series is meant to make you uncomfortable, to think about subjects you may not care to and also to create a dialog about issues others chose to ignore.

I’ve had mixed reviews on this series but after reading through the guest book left in the gallery I have had my worries banished with words. One viewer wrote “ I hope to be as brave as you one day…” another said “Amazing. The story behind it is so awful, but you managed to take something so ugly and create beautiful art.” Some even shared a little bit of their own stories with me “I absolutely know what you went through as I myself had when I was 8 your work is very moving.” “ Thank you for sharing. I’m sorry to hear about that, but I’m glad that you’ve changed and had the strength to overcome it all. ROCK ON.” These and other comments left by those who attended my show in the Emmett Christian Gallery within SUNY Fredonia’s campus reinforced my my feeling that I did the right thing by exploring this dark theme.

The Interview with Manhattan based writer: Jesse Pohlman:

Today I was given a chance to sit down with Cecelia Ivy Price, owner of Artistic Chaos Studios formerly of New York (currently located in Cleveland). When she’s not defeating snow drifts, she’s pushing the boundaries of what’s allowed on a painter’s canvas. Her latest series of paintings, “Dominator,” uses the context of BDSM to explore issues of self-image and overcoming social boundaries.

Out of all of the paintings in this collection, which one resonates most strongly with you?

CIP: I think the final piece, the one with me as a Dom and I have my slave on the leash. By becoming the Femdom I’m reclaiming the sexuality I lost when I was younger, and taking power back in a specifically sexual sense.

Tell me about that! When you say you’re reclaiming power, you put it in a very personal tone. Who are you taking it back from?

CIP: Well Jesse, I was a victim of molestation when I was young, and was raped by a boy on New Years Eve, some years ago. After that I kind of just let men treat me like crap. It’s the reason I assume I became interested in bondage in the first place. I was used to being stepped on and taken advantage of.

Did you paint this project as part of your schoolwork?

CIP: Yes, as a matter of fact Jesse I did. I completed 24 paintings in one semester for the double painting class I was in. The paintings varied in size from 14 x 18 inches to 3 x 4 feet. All on panels made by hand.

That’s incredible. How did your professor and class-mates approach your work? Was there any tension?

CIP: My professor was surprisingly supportive. My classmates were mostly neutral, but there were some who were uber excited about it.

And you didn’t experience any hostile feedback?

CIP: To an extent. I invited the Dean of the Visual Arts and New Media department to the opening. He liked the work, but said we should have put an advisory outside of the gallery. Never did and was never reprimanded, but I believe it was more of a suggestion. I got mostly positive feedback in my guest-book! But, one coward questioned my artwork in another artist’s book.

Since you mentioned content advisories, I can’t ignore the obvious. The Fifty Shades Of Gray movie just came out. There’s plenty of controversy about whether it’s inappropriate to show in theaters, if kids will sneak into it, and all of that. Do you think that these criticisms come from a society-wide idea that BDSM is somehow bad?

CIP: Yes. Especially with books like 50 Shades being popularized as to what BDSM is. Anyone who cared to do a little research would see that its more complex than that. And the book is basically promoting abusive stalker behavior as ‘sexy bondage’ Its not truly representational of the culture.

I know a significant chunk of your dip into the bondage world is based on your past, but would you say that most BDSM participants have issues they are working through? More importantly, do you think BDSM will make people healthier or less-healthy over time?

CIP: I don’t want to speak for everyone. I have noticed in conversations with some of the friends I have gained in the fetish world, some carried fetishes over from childhood urges. One of my friends has a medical glove fetish; I know with him it started early, and as he grew to the age of puberty his thing for medical gloves became sexual. I think it’s probably similar with most of us. We are trying to get back a feeling we are used to, to or create a new feeling to replace an old one.

I think control is a powerful idea, and either having full control when you’ve always been denied it in some way, or continuing to control because you seek power over another, or even giving up control because you seek to fully please another are all seductive concepts that can lure one, even if they manifest in different forms. I think as long as it is kept among consenting adults, BDSM can be the perfect outlet to act out fantasies. In the long run I think it’s healthy.

Alrighty! Well, I hope you continue to have fun with the bondage world, and that it continues to give you both creative inspiration and intimate satisfaction. Thank you so much for your time!

Cecelia Ivy Price is the owner of Artistic Chaos Studios, and can be reached through her e-mail address, where she is available for commissions. In addition, she’s opened a GoFundMe project for a trip to Italy to further her art studies. If you like her work, lend her your support! Her VF username is CeceliaIvyMarie.

Jesse Pohlman performed this interview on behalf of Vampirefreaks.com. He’s a novelist working out of Long Island, New York, with many titles available on his Amazon Author’s Page. His VF username is Epsilon227, where you can contact him about writing for you! Or, just check out his webpage!

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