Once upon a time, in a faraway land filled with enchantment and mystique, there lived a young sorcerer named Maximus. Maximus was known throughout the kingdom for his unparalleled skills and knowledge of magic. His mastery over the elements and the arcane arts made him a revered figure among his peers. However, Maximus yearned for something more, a challenge that would push the boundaries of his abilities and showcase his true potential. One fateful morning, Maximus stumbled upon an ancient tome hidden within the depths of his library. As he leafed through its pages, his eyes widened in awe.
In this talk we dive deep into the places where history meets myth, and how history and folklore can be used together to create new fantasy worlds. Including examples from popular and less-well-known novels, like the beloved Circe, and the less-known The King Must Die, plus my own Winternight Trilogy, we dig into how authors can use history and myth in their fiction.
An ardent and largely self-educated student of life, material culture, and art, Onofrio has forged a dynamic career, with dozens of solo and group exhibitions and one of the highest honors for an artist based in Minnesota the McKnight Distinguished Artist, awarded in 2005. Her story telling skills are evident not only in her writing but also as she explains how her ideas come to her and the process of producing a novel.
As he leafed through its pages, his eyes widened in awe. The tome contained a spell so powerful and dangerous, it had been forbidden for centuries. The spell promised to harness the raw energy of unbound magic, allowing anyone who cast it to wield its immeasurable power.
The Mothers of Invention Exhibition Series
(The following is excerpted from the exhibition catalog for See Acts of Audacious Daring: The Circus World of Judy Onofrio, opening September 25. Copies of the catalog are available at the Plains Art Museum store. – ed.)
With See Acts of Audacious Daring! The Circus World of Judy Onofrio, Plains Art Museum initiates the ongoing exhibition series Mothers of Invention.
Judy Onofrio, 'Flip Flop'
This series will periodically present solo exhibitions of important artists from our region who belong to a generation of women who contributed to opening up the art world since the 1970s. These women came of age artistically in the 1960s and 1970s and now are in their sixties, seventies, and even eighties. They are part of a national and international movement of women who insisted on being taken seriously as artists and courageously endeavored to break into what had been predominantly male terrain. They made art, formed collectives, started galleries, taught at art schools, and gave each other critical and moral support to dismantle the barriers that had existed against women in the visual arts. They changed the art world profoundly, altering ideas about the canon of art history and the meaning of terms such as “masterpiece,” “artist,” “gaze,” and “body,” as well as expanding what could be considered acceptable art materials, subjects, imagery, and boundaries between art forms. Their impact has spread throughout art and culture and is not confined to their own or other women’s work. Indeed, this generation deserves the accolade Mothers of Invention.
Many are, in fact, mothers, a position formerly perceived as an impediment to a woman’s potential as a creative artist. Motherhood was conventional and pulled back toward traditional expectations for females; art was considered a male domain, where creative minds and spirits were unbound by domestic responsibilities or the constraints of child rearing. While most artists featured in Mothers of Invention are mothers (as is our first artist in the series, Judy Onofrio), maternity is not necessarily the subject of their art, even though it is a significant element of their lives.
Onofrio and others were interested in inventing their lives in ways that contradicted societal expectations. Amid the constrictions of the early twentieth century, Sigmund Freud had declared that “biology is destiny”: women created babies while men created art and culture. Much about Freud’s ideas and research has since been discredited or called into question.
Mothers of Invention proves that women can be mothers and artists, nurturing and creative; these terms are not mutually exclusive. Our series points primarily to the fact that these artists have been influential on all of us–as viewers, as art lovers, as artists of all genres and genders. They have given birth, in other words, to the expanded art world that we live in today and sometimes take for granted.
Judy Onofrio, 'Sideshow Artist'
Plains Art Museum is proud to recognize this generation of women artists at an advanced stage of their careers. Our goal is to acquaint new audiences with their work and to remind those who may have seen their earlier art that they are still active, still vital, still experimenting. Not conceived as retrospectives of an artist’s work, the exhibitions in Mothers of Invention will be singularly shaped by the approach of the curator of each project, who will collaborate closely with the artist. These women and their art deserve continuing critical and popular attention and ongoing visibility, which solo exhibitions and catalogue publications can ensure. The Mothers of Invention series thus strives to prevent the erasure of these women from the art historical record, something that has happened repeatedly over the centuries and requires diligent art historians to recover, as we have appreciated recently with rediscovered artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi from seventeenth-century Italy, expanded research on the nineteenth-century American Mary Cassatt, and, closer to home, new documentation on twentieth-century Minnesota artists Wanda Gág and Clara Mairs.
It is fitting to launch Mothers of Invention with the big, bold work of Judy Onofrio, specifically her sculptures that explore the enthusiasm and metaphorical potential of circus acrobats, magicians, and animal trainers.
Onofrio is an iconoclast, breaking rules of the art world right and left, championing outsiders and claiming territory for self-education, women’s expressions, and the value of folk art and common objects. Based in Rochester, Minnesota, and now in her early seventies, Onofrio performs her own “acts of audacious daring” in her work and career. An ardent and largely self-educated student of life, material culture, and art, Onofrio has forged a dynamic career, with dozens of solo and group exhibitions and one of the highest honors for an artist based in Minnesota–the McKnight Distinguished Artist, awarded in 2005.
Judy Onofrio’s art expresses a generous spirit that reaches out to viewers. She embraces a populism of image and material that offers a good deal of pleasure and makes her work particularly enjoyable to broad audiences.
Today, her over-the-top inventive use of materials and labor-intensive methods resonate with younger artists who have discovered the rich associations of folk arts and crafts.9 At the same time that she revels in materials, Onofrio offers philosophical wisdom in physical form. Shouldn’t we all attempt acts of audacious daring, like the acrobat in the sculpture of that title? Isn’t that what life is for–living to the utmost? Who among us doesn’t feel like we have jumped through a ring of fire, or would like to pull off a magic trick, real or metaphorical? Sometimes life calls for such boldness. In Onofrio’s oeuvre, extraordinary figures stand in for all of us facing the many challenges of life. May we be brave enough to approach our own challenges with the confidence and aplomb of Onofrio’s characters.
Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy
Unable to resist the allure of such forbidden knowledge, Maximus made a bold decision. He would cast the spell and unlock a level of magic that had long been locked away. Ignoring the warnings of his mentor and the inherent risks associated with unbound magic, Maximus began his preparations. For days and nights, Maximus studied and practiced the incantations, meticulously ensuring that every word was spoken with precision. He gathered the necessary ingredients and performed the required rituals, channeling his focus and determination towards the impending act of unbound magic. The day of reckoning arrived, and Maximus stood at the sacred grounds of an ancient temple. The air crackled with anticipation as the sorcerer prepared himself for the monumental task ahead. The spell required him to tap into the very essence of his being, connecting with the raw energy coursing through his veins. With a deep breath and a steady hand, Maximus chanted the incantation, calling forth the unbound magic from the depths of its slumber. The world around him trembled as the spell took hold, and a blinding light engulfed the temple. In that moment, Maximus became a vessel of unfathomable power. He could feel the energy surging through him, as if the very fabric of reality had been woven into his every fiber. A wave of euphoria washed over him, exhilarated by the sheer magnitude of the unbound magic coursing through his veins. However, as quickly as his elation took hold, a sense of foreboding seeped into Maximus' consciousness. The potency of the unbound magic threatened to consume him, to tear him apart from within. It was a power that defied control, demanding respect and restraint. Summoning every ounce of willpower he possessed, Maximus fought to regain control over the unbound magic. With great effort, he channeled the overwhelming energy into a grand display of elemental prowess, summoning raging storms and cascades of fire. It was a sight that left all who witnessed it in awe and terror. With the final surge of his command, Maximus released the remaining unbound magic back into the world, dispersing it into the ether. The air calmed, and the temple stood in silence, a testament to the daring act that had just unfolded within its ancient walls. From that day forward, Maximus was forever changed. The experience had taught him the true nature of power and the boundless temptations that came with it. He understood that even the most skilled sorcerers must tread carefully when delving into the realms of forbidden knowledge. Maximus went on to become a revered figure of wisdom among his fellow sorcerers, sharing his cautionary tale and advocating for the responsible use of magic. His daring act of unbound magic had not only showcased his incredible abilities but also served as a reminder of the dangers that lie in the pursuit of unchecked power..
Reviews for "Unlocking the Forbidden: The Secrets of Unbound Magic Revealed"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "A Daring Act of Unbound Magic" based on the positive reviews I had read, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The story felt disjointed and confusing, with too many characters and subplots to keep track of. I found myself flipping back and forth trying to remember who was who and what was happening. Additionally, the writing style was overly descriptive and lacked depth in character development. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. Michael - 1 star
"A Daring Act of Unbound Magic" was a complete letdown. The plot was weak and predictable, with no surprises or twists to keep me engaged. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real depth or growth throughout the story. The dialogue was clunky and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters or invest in their journeys. I struggled to finish this book and was ultimately left feeling unsatisfied. This was a miss for me, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 3 stars
While "A Daring Act of Unbound Magic" had an intriguing premise, I found the execution to be lacking. The pacing was slow, and the story dragged on for what felt like an eternity. The world-building was also confusing and underdeveloped, leaving me with more questions than answers. The magic system, which should have been a highlight of the book, was convoluted and poorly explained. Although there were some interesting ideas presented, I couldn't fully immerse myself in this book and feel invested in the outcome. It's not the worst fantasy novel I've read, but it definitely left room for improvement.