Virago Tasting Room
Overview
Painted for the Virago Spirits tasting room, featuring three imagined archetypal Virago figures. They are surrounded by a background of the fruits, herbs, spices, winds, and waves that have produced incredible spirits throughout history.
Artist’s Statement
The word Virago comes from a feminized application of the vir- prefix, which refers to the idea of “a brave man abiding by society's highest values and ethics as opposed to homo, human being”. Think Virtue or Virile. Valor, heroism, morality, and physical strength define a class of men who were considered above women and other men. “A woman, however, if exceptional enough could earn the title virago. In doing so, she surpassed the expectations for what was believed possible for her gender, and embodied masculine-like aggression and/or excellence”
“The word virago has almost always had an association with cultural gender transgression. A virago, of whatever excellence, was still identified by her gender.” “The word virago could also be used disparagingly, to imply that a virago was not excellent or heroic, but was instead violating cultural norms.” At various points, it has also carried the implication of lesbianism, or desiring women like men do.
This word is a double-edged sword. Currently the word is marked with stigma - masculine is not a compliment for most women. But if we continue the patriarchaic values of labelling someone a Virago in a complimentary fashion, we are assigning male traits a higher value than female traits in the same way the Romans did. So this whole concept requires a little reframing:
In the same way the idea of the female has been historically limited, but key figures have pushed beyond the restrictive roles, this mural celebrates people in all walks of life who rebel against their circumstances and societal expectations to fulfill their highest potential. Masculine females of history are an inspiration for us today to go above and beyond.
Because of our increasingly visual culture, artists have enormous responsibility to the viewers of their work. Our culture is shaped by images, and the people creating those images are the vanguard of our reality. We create the archetypes of our future. For those of us working in public art or in other positions of great visibility, this is especially true.
In designing the figures in this mural, my goal was positive representation of a variety of personal qualities, both to hint at the very broad spectrum of historical personalities inspiring the piece, and to convey that people of all walks of life can embody Virago qualities.
Size
11’ x 95' // 1045 sqft // 4 walls, 360° wrap
DOB
October 2018
Client
Virago Spirits
Helen Reed Interior Design
Photographers
Sarah Der Photography
Nick Davis Photography
Location: Virago Spirits Tasting Room, 1727 Rhoadmiller Street, Richmond, VA 23220 (interior)
Influential Historical Figures
The list of historical figures who inspired this piece is long. My clients supplied many lists of historical figures that inspired them and informed their branding. I don’t have a background in women’s studies, I’m not a historian, but I took this opportunity to set aside time for learning. Ultimately I chose three personalities to represent who were inspired by several figures specifically, as well as myriad more in subtler, subconscious ways. Queens, Moldbreakers, and the Steadfast. They are all courageous and determined. That’s what it takes to be different and survive. These examples are hardly comprehensive, but they are a first stab at recharacterizing what it means to be a Virago.
FIGURE 1: QUEENS
Standing proud, royal, a leader of people. Strong presence, direct gaze, self-determination. Drawing attention, in control, in a position of power. Prepared for conflict, rallying voice.
Marsha P Johnson - gay black liberation activist drag queen in New York
Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba - warrior, negotiator, politician, diplomat, spiritual leader, mother, amazing resistor of colonization.
Maggie Walker - the Richmond native and school teacher who became the first African American woman to charter a bank, and the first female bank president in America.
Jeanne D'Arc
Frida Khalo - Frida highlighted her identity as a Mexican woman as much as she illustrated her experience being physically disabled in her artwork. She was openly bisexual, despite a double standard held by her husband and society at large, and she valued and celebrated characteristics that patriarchal society has labelled unfeminine and ugly.
Aspects alluding to these historical figures: flowers / crown hair, red heels, imposing stature, bust, lipstick, shawl / draped clothes, patterns, armor, brows
FIGURE 2: STEADFAST
Sitting / low: position of strength & comfort, wisdom, speaker, scholar, humanitarian, persistent, determined, gentle strength, diligent, above and beyond the call of duty, defying expectation, brilliant, steadfast, Doing the difficult daily work of resistance and being a source of knowledge to create a pathway to change for themselves and others.
Rosa Parks
Chang-E - Shinto Goddess of the Moon.
Amaterasu - The Sun Goddess in Japanese Mythology, Amaterasu is the most sacred of all Shinto deities, responsible for keeping balance and harmony within the earthly realm.
Ng Mui - the only female of the legendary ‘five elders’ in Shaolin martial arts. Her clever, adaptable style of self defense was a great equalizer as it took away the advantages of size, weight or gender.
Fred Rogers
Single parents
Margaret Hamilton - American computer scientist
Aspects alluding to these historical figures: striped shirt, seated / at work / reflection, steepled fingers, glasses, long braid, encircling scarf, billowing pants/skirt, elder, beams of light, long hair
FIGURE 3: MOLDBREAKERS
Visionary, individualistic, pushing beyond, triumphant. Performative, spotlit, leading by example, proud, self-possessed, brash, confident. Looking beyond what the rest of us can see. Pushing the limits by pushing themselves.
David Bowie / Hedy Lemarr - mainstage genderbender / high femme scientist
Female Pirates
Katharine Hepburn
Special Olympics Athletes
Tuskegee Airmen / Amelia Earhart - pushing racial and gender boundaries in flight
Mary Elizabeth Bowser - Educated and respected freed citizen working in the Confederate White House, pretending to a servile status in order to spy for the Union. “Ms. Bowser succeeded in a highly dangerous mission to the great benefit of the Union effort. She was one of the highest placed and most productive espionage agents of the Civil War.”
Aspects alluding to these historical figures: in motion, jumping, flying, running, floating, bowie clothes / lemarr stars, shirt open, goggles / flyboy gear, visible disability, face of triumph, open hand reaching back, strong light, blowing hair
