DID I MENTION that I was building a time machine? Well, I’m delighted to report that my silhouette time machine is now live and active. You can use it via the Silhouettist website to book a silhouette sitting in whatever timezone you reside.
The concept is simple: to make my silhouettes available around the world. It does this by guiding people to one of my Zoom days taking place at the most convenient time of day for where they live.
I’ve been running my Mays Barn studio days over Zoom for the last couple of months. I set them up as online events and invite people to book a private, 10-minute sitting to have their silhouettes cut.
At first, I thought of these as simply a way to ride out the current crisis, but I quickly realised they’re more than that; they enable me to connect with people all over the world.
Virtual events are wonderful! In the privacy of their own homes people relax and begin to challenge me with poses they would never dream of adopting at a wedding or corporate dinner. As an artist this is presenting me with a whole new set of challenges. The glimpses people offer me into their lives feels like a unique privilege.
Just as I was beginning to think I had cut every kind of silhouette there is to cut. How wrong could I be?
I began to realise – not for the first time – that the story is often more important than the silhouette. The stories people tell about their silhouettes form the memories of the future.
So I decided to collect some stories.
Silhouettes for Stories
A One-Time Special Offer!
To celebrate the launch of my new website I’m offering free sittings at one of my virtual studio days. There are several taking place during August and you’ll find them really fun!
However, I’m not giving these away. I need a story from you.
Specifically, a story about a silhouette (well, what else would I want?)
It can be any silhouette: one of mine, or an antique, a family heirloom, or a silhouette made by a contemporary of mine. I don’t mind which silhouette you choose, I care more about the story.
Please base your story on this question: why is this silhouette important to me?
You can optionally include the following in your answer:
- Who is it a silhouette of?
- What time does it come from?
- Who is it by?
However, the thing I care most about is the personal importance you attach to this silhouette. If you still possess it, please also send me a photo. If not, a verbal description will do.
I’ll then send a voucher for you to redeem at any of my upcoming virtual studio days.
Why do I need these stories?
To me, silhouettes are all about travelling in time. This is not just an excuse for an attention-grabbing subject line (well, OK, that too… ) The silhouettes we own today are, often literally, shadows from the past. That’s why they can seem so important. The silhouettes I make today will eventually become shadows of tomorrows past (ie: of our time, today).
My new website contains a fledgling section called Silhouette Stories. Currently, there’s not much there, but I plan a series of case studies designed to answer the question:
Why are silhouettes important?
This is where your story and any photographs you send might end up.
My hope is that by offering stories about why silhouettes are important, it will inspire people to visit my time machine and commission a silhouette of their own. The purpose fo the time machine is simply to make this possible right across the globe.
The Story of the Time-Machine
Building the time machine was an absorbing process, but a lot of fun. I began by assuming that a timezone map would be both simple to find and easy to add to the website. I was wrong on both counts…
Contrary to my expectations, it turns out there aren’t 24 timezones at all, but many more. More places than I realised (Newfoundland, India, large parts of Australia, etc) use odd, half-hour timezones. A few, like Nepal, are just 15 minutes different from their neighbours.
I soon realised I needed to simplify things. So I took an executive decision to divide the entire planet into just eight broad timezones. Initially, each zone covered a three-hour time difference, but once I took into account all the “odd” timezones the borders between each became quite intricate.
Once done, it gave me an excuse to divide the world map into some really interesting and unique silhouettes. I’m not sure anybody has ever seen these shapes before!
Please test it out and let me know where you end up.
I actually had goosebumps reading Betty’s story. And you are still the best silhouette artist ever.
Wow, that’s a reaction! Thank you Susan
Wow! I love this, since I so love history. It’s history that makes today, and tomorrow. Thanks for sharing. It’s beautiful.
Thank you. I agree, history is fascinating!
Really interesting article and wonderfully original idea.
I loved the Impressionists work and had heard of Marin so how exciting to find out your grandma had her silhouette cut by him.
Thanks Grace. Really, you heard of Marin? You’re the first person I met to do so!
Very interesting reading.
We have used you and consequently have forwarded the e-mail to friends.
Keep well and hope that you are working hard and successfully.
Thank you Michael, I look forward to hearing from them.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your posts. I have a copy of the silhouette of Clara Swinburn Burns and 8 of her nine children, (9th was on the way). Your grandfather, my uncle and godfather was probably a young teenager. I see it every day as it hangs in my bedroom. I am sure you know it. Wish you all success.
Hi Patrica, yes I have a photocopy of that silhouette somewhere. I feel it defines the family somehow!
We have two of your silhouettes of us as a couple – each reminds us of the occasions when they were created (especially my Goddaughter’s wedding). Such precious memories.
Thank you Susan