Thirtieth Year by Day is a project designed for the purpose of collecting a defined set of personal data over the span of one year, commencing with my thirtieth birthday (December 28, 2000).
As a single, career-driven woman in her early thirties, I have found myself at odds with both the literary concept of the Romantic figure, and common concepts of Romance. I am continuously balancing my sense of independence (or "independent womanhood") against my sentimental desire for companionship and romantic love i.e. my fantastical yearning to be overcome by the chivalrous and, as far as this modern woman is determined to convince herself of, mythological, "knight in shining armour."
This work was completed with the assistance of Ilana Schwartz, who was hired to create the smart illustrations used to visualize the collected data.
The work was first exhibited at The Mendel Art Gallery in the exhibition Daring Confessions: Romance and the Modern Day Woman curated by Alexandra Stratulat, in September 2003.
To view the original web form used to collect data, please follow the Generic Form link.
click here to view the Mendel Art Gallery website, with curatorial statement by Alexandra Stratulat
