Martine MacDonald | She Flies With Her Own Wings (hat and overgarment)
Photo by Rich Earle
Several years ago, I adopted the phrase She Flies with Her Own Wing (SFWHOW) as my personal motto. It represents staying true to myself and a willingness to take the risks to follow my own pathway. I have often used the symbol of an empty nest to with a single feather. Don’t look for the owner of this feather, for she has taken flight, using her own skills talents, and strengths.
The 1960s-era hat I embellished has feathers and netting and a vintage-inspired bird brooch and is styled to, so that the back of the hat tilts up saucy manner. The overgarment is a reclaimed translucent dressing gown, dyed and embellished with a painted nest image and ribbon. It becomes a statement of confidence and empowerment.
She Flies With Her Own Wings
Artist Martine MacDonald dives into her inspiration for her piece “She Flies With Her Own Wings.”
Martine MacDonald is an award-winning multi-media artist working in a variety of media: oil paintings, drawing, printmaking, and construction of mixed media pieces.
Martine has considerable experience as a teacher, exhibition curator, and former arts columnist for a community newspaper. Spending close to a decade in arts administration, Martine returned to her studio practice in 2009. Since 2010, she has been adjunct faculty in arts and humanities at Wayne County Community College District.
A graduate of Wayne State University, Martine’s work is in local galleries, exhibitions, and in private and corporate collections. Represented by River’s Edge Gallery, Martine maintains a studio practice in Dearborn, Michigan.