The works of Joyce Ellen Weinstein are concerned with the understanding of human relationships, beginning with ourselves and extending outward to include family, community, ethnicity, and nationality. Although at first glance the works of Joyce Ellen Weinstein appear disparate, after closer examination one can find her inspiration in the personal and emotional, as well as the interaction developed through self, family, and community – all of which are parts making up the whole of her unified body of work. Her works do not sentimentalize, but speak of the human measure and human condition. The works of Joyce Ellen Weinstein ask the universal question: “who am I and where am I going?”

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘Waiting for the Ferry’ Scratchboard Triptych 54″x17.5″ $800ea or $1800 for the set
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Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘The Weekend’ Scratchboard 9″x12″ $750

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘The Schooner’ Scratchboard 16″x20″ $1500

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘On the Wharf’ Scratchboard 25.5″x21.5″ $1500

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘The Mail Run Ferry’ Etching & Aquatint 27″x17″$1200

by Joyce Ellen Weinstein
A lot has happened since my article “Aging and Mortality” was first published in 2020 in The Journal of the Print World. To quickly recap; the work, 3.5” x 5” dry point on plexiglass etchings, was inspired by an accident I had when I hurt my leg at the age of 79, and had to walk assisted by a cane. Never having had any disability shocked me into an awareness and empathy of others with physical challenges.

I really began to observe other older women who had mobility issues. Because I am a figurative artist and dedicated people watcher whose work is about life around me, I was totally moved and inspired and used this experience to create a new body of work about this life’s challenges. I took many iPhone photos, always keeping a respectful distance as I hobbled around the city and used my photos as reference.

Since the publication of my original article, some prints have been sold. I enjoyed an artist’s residency at Blue Mountain Center NY. I have two exhibitions planned, relocated from NYC to Westbrook, Maine, have been invited to write this recap of my original article, and have won a Maine Arts Commission grant to develop further this project. Receiving this grant was as much of a surprise to me as my leaving New York to run away from Covid. Never did I imagine leaving “the city.” But life has it’s surprises and now I can’t imagine living anywhere else but Maine … an amazingly artist -friendly place.

In ruminating over the experience and project, I have decided to alter the focus of my Ladies of a Certain Age. Originally they were to be printed in a set of four prints per image, each image gradually fading out into oblivion and/or becoming invisible as many old people are viewed, most especially women. But now I see these women in a completely different light; as resilient, enduring women who are tough and strong, who persist regardless of life’s challenges. I have learned to be resilient like my plexiglass dry-point ladies.

Because my women of a certain age are not to be dismissed, are not run of the mill, my presentation should take an unorthodox, a more experimental approach . Using the collection of antique handkerchiefs from my mother, (who died at the age of 99 about 15 years ago) and from my childhood, (when girls in elementary school in Brooklyn, where I grew up, had to bring a cloth handkerchief to school every day), I am dry mounting the images directly on hankies and embroidering a cross stitch around the image, suggesting a decorative frame like design. This refers to a by gone era … an era that these ladies may represent.

My first thought was to show them by individually hanging the hankies on a clothesline using miniature clothespins. But as I pictured this, I realized it was too cutesy and didn’t represent the dignity these women deserved. They need proper framing. Fortunately, I have a wonderful creative framer, and we are working together to create a presentation of the mounted hankies that are worthy of the ladies.

One of my favorite things to do is rummage through the old frames at Goodwill. I have discovered some amazing treasures that are perfect for framing the images that are not dry mounted on the hankies. I have found faux ornate silver, real pewter and metal frames that have decorative elements that also suggest timelessness. These frames can be either wall mounted or used on tabletops. One of these frames actually has a lace inset instead of mat board for mounting the image.

As I work through this project I also begin to see that some of the images tell me they want to be enlarged. I have completed two dry point on plexiglass images, one 10” x 8” and another 14”x 11” for example. I don’t think I am finished enlarging some and am not up to how to frame
them yet. Time will tell.

I am so loving how and where this project is taking me. It feels strong, enduring and forever evolving…just like my ladies.

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘Windblown’ Drypoint Etching on Handkerchief 15.5”x15.5” Framed $550

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘People Watching’ Drypoint Etching on Handkerchief 15.5”x15.5” Framed $550

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘The Conference’ Drypoint Etching on Handkerchief 15.5”x15.5” Framed $550 

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘The Alpine Hiker’ Drypoint Etching on Handkerchief 15.5”x15.5” Framed $550

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘The Connoisseur’ Drypoint Etching on Handkerchief  15.5”x15.5” Framed $550

Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘The Walker’ Drypoint Etching on Handkerchief  15.5”x15.5” Framed SOLD