In the artists’ book Title Divine, which incorporates Emily Dickinson’s poem Title divine – is mine! Miriam Schaer takes this commonplace symbol and extracts its multiple connections with womanhood. But Schaer goes far beyond its typical associations with romantic love, sex, marriage and the many nuances of feelings involved in “affairs of the heart.” By enclosing the heart-shaped book within an actual bustier that has been stiffened and painted gold, the artist forcefully proclaims her intention to deal with the subjugated woman, the woman fettered by preoccupation with appearance and beholden to male desires. The severe rigidity of the bustier promises a seriously uncomfortable garment, while its wrinkled and faux-gold surface doesn’t particularly enhance

Inside the book is Dickinson’s poem, hand-written in pen and ink and spread across the entire expanse of the two pages. By many interpretations, including Schaer’s, the poem is something of a critique of the institution of marriage and more generally of woman’s role in the world. But this temporal marriage is overlaid with indications of a spiritual marriage to Christ. The first line, anchored by an explanation point, is evidently the ecstatic statement of a heavenly bride: “Title divine – is mine!” The progression of the poem is fitful, but after a middle section that holds images of woman’s suffering and death: “Born – Bridalled – Shrouded –” it settles into an earthly idea of marriage in which wives speak reverently of their husbands: “Stroking the Melody –” And then the last line: “Is this – the way?” Many commentators, including Schaer, have taken this as a profound questioning of the wisdom of women who are so enchanted by the power of men that they relinquish all their own power.

Whatever the interpretation, it is clear that to Schaer Dickinson’s poem, even with its shifting tone and the ambiguity of its imagery, is a powerful and clear expression of female identity.

At first glance, C.J. Grossman’s Cooked Pig appears to be a hand-crafted cookbook, created with collaged vintage imagery and a recipe for chocolate custard ice cream. A doll-sized rolling pin that serves as the spine for the book and embellishments such as the decorative scalloped edges lend the book a loving-hands-at-home quality.

Cooked Pig
C.J. Grossman