2023 Shona Rae Converse Subversives — Alberta Craft Council

Installation of Converse Subversives at the Alberta Craft Discovery Gallery.

Shona Rae

The Red Shoes (2022)

Deer skull and toes, wool, sterling silver

The tale of “The Red Shoes” is a story of chronic self-destructive obsession and madness. A young woman cannot stop her cravings to wear red shoes to church, even though she cannot control her desire to dance while wearing them. She is driven beyond reason to wear them until finally, she is swept away in a dancing frenzy to her ultimate ruin. Only by having her feet cut off by the local wood cutter can she bring her self to stop. I created The Red Shoes doll to encourage conversation around the opioid epidemic that is killing and destroying lives in North America at an alarming rate.

Shona Rae

The Red Shoes (detail) (2022)

Deer skull and toes, wool, sterling silver

The tale of “The Red Shoes” is a story of chronic self-destructive obsession and madness. A young woman cannot stop her cravings to wear red shoes to church, even though she cannot control her desire to dance while wearing them. She is driven beyond reason to wear them until finally, she is swept away in a dancing frenzy to her ultimate ruin. Only by having her feet cut off by the local wood cutter can she bring her self to stop. I created The Red Shoes doll to encourage conversation around the opioid epidemic that is killing and destroying lives in North America at an alarming rate.

Shona Rae

The Red Shoes (detail) (2022)

Deer skull and toes, wool, sterling silver

The tale of “The Red Shoes” is a story of chronic self-destructive obsession and madness. A young woman cannot stop her cravings to wear red shoes to church, even though she cannot control her desire to dance while wearing them. She is driven beyond reason to wear them until finally, she is swept away in a dancing frenzy to her ultimate ruin. Only by having her feet cut off by the local wood cutter can she bring her self to stop. I created The Red Shoes doll to encourage conversation around the opioid epidemic that is killing and destroying lives in North America at an alarming rate.

Shona Rae

Atalanta (2022)

Bear skull, claws, fur, deer teeth and jaws, pig teeth, wool, bronze, metal leaf, galvanized steel

Atalanta is a female hero of the Greek pantheon. Born of a king or nobility, she is abandoned at birth on the top of a mountain where she is suckled by a bear who has recently lost her cub. The hunters who killed the young bear find Atalanta and raise her to become a fierce hunter, warrior, wrestler and the fastest runner in the land. She devotes herself to Artemes, which means she chooses only women.

Eventually her father brings her to court and she is pressured to marry. Atalanta agrees to marry only with a man who can beat her in a race but if he loses, he is to be executed. Finally, with the aid of the Goddess Athena, one young man wins the race by tossing golden apples at her feet whenever she begins to pass him. In a final twist they are both turned into lions shortly after the union and are therefore to roam the wilderness in peace from petty human expectations.

Shona Rae

Atalanta (detail) (2022)

Bear skull, claws, fur, deer teeth and jaws, pig teeth, wool, bronze, metal leaf, galvanized steel

Atalanta is a female hero of the Greek pantheon. Born of a king or nobility, she is abandoned at birth on the top of a mountain where she is suckled by a bear who has recently lost her cub. The hunters who killed the young bear find Atalanta and raise her to become a fierce hunter, warrior, wrestler and the fastest runner in the land. She devotes herself to Artemes, which means she chooses only women.

Eventually her father brings her to court and she is pressured to marry. Atalanta agrees to marry only with a man who can beat her in a race but if he loses, he is to be executed. Finally, with the aid of the Goddess Athena, one young man wins the race by tossing golden apples at her feet whenever she begins to pass him. In a final twist they are both turned into lions shortly after the union and are therefore to roam the wilderness in peace from petty human expectations.

Shona Rae

Bluebeard’s Wife’s Doll (2021)

Deer skull, wool, bronze

What does the doll look like that a survivor of a psychopathic homicidal husband who uses magical keys and locked doors to lure his victims to slaughter? She created this doll in her art therapy sessions to speak to her darkest fears and trauma.

Shona Rae

Bluebeard’s Dolly (2023)

Wool, wagon wheel hub, bronze, galvanized wire

What influences the childhood of a homicidal psychopath? I have been obsessed with the story of Bluebeard for over twenty years now and I created this doll with its dismembered doll parts, keys and keyholes, as a shield he wears inside his chest into adulthood. In my mind it represents layers of trauma he may have suffered as a child.

Shona Rae

Bluebeard’s Dolly (detail) (2023)

Wool, wagon wheel hub, bronze, galvanized wire

What influences the childhood of a homicidal psychopath? I have been obsessed with the story of Bluebeard for over twenty years now and I created this doll with its dismembered doll parts, keys and keyholes, as a shield he wears inside his chest into adulthood. In my mind it represents layers of trauma he may have suffered as a child.

Shona Rae

Dad’s Alien Doll (2021)

Deer skull, stag antlers, wool, sterling silver, peach moonstones

My Mother passed away at the very outbreak of the pandemic, after 70 years of marriage and we were unable to visit my father very often over the next 5 months due to the restrictions. By the time we did, it was too little, too late and he died the next autumn after a very short illness.

The Antler from a large stag was chosen as well as the deer skull because Dad was such an avid hunter. The moonstones because he told me one night, around the fire of our hunting campsite, that he believed he had seen alien spaceships in the wild mountain skies when he was young. I created a tiny “Mini-Me’ doll pendant for him to carry in his heart as I know he always did in his lifetime. Since their passing, my parents continue to visit me in dreams to encourage my work and offer ideas for Converse Subversives.

Shona Rae

Dad’s Alien Doll (detail) (2021)

Deer skull, stag antlers, wool, sterling silver, peach moonstones

My Mother passed away at the very outbreak of the pandemic, after 70 years of marriage and we were unable to visit my father very often over the next 5 months due to the restrictions. By the time we did, it was too little, too late and he died the next autumn after a very short illness.

The Antler from a large stag was chosen as well as the deer skull because Dad was such an avid hunter. The moonstones because he told me one night, around the fire of our hunting campsite, that he believed he had seen alien spaceships in the wild mountain skies when he was young. I created a tiny “Mini-Me’ doll pendant for him to carry in his heart as I know he always did in his lifetime. Since their passing, my parents continue to visit me in dreams to encourage my work and offer ideas for Converse Subversives.

Shona Rae

Carlos Caribou Dancer (2022)

Caribou antler, wool, oil paint, bronze, metal leaf, galvanized steel wire

This dancing doll became more and more flamboyant as I played with his construction. Eventually he took on a name and I saw that he was in love with Moose Man Dancer. Ah, but his love was not requited for Moose Man disdains Salsa and Flamenco dancing as frivolous and unworthy of his notice. Yet Carlos continues to gaze upon Moose Man’s cold shoulder with undying love and affection.

Shona Rae

Carlos Caribou Dancer (detail) (2022)

Caribou antler, wool, oil paint, bronze, metal leaf, galvanized steel wire

This dancing doll became more and more flamboyant as I played with his construction. Eventually he took on a name and I saw that he was in love with Moose Man Dancer. Ah, but his love was not requited for Moose Man disdains Salsa and Flamenco dancing as frivolous and unworthy of his notice. Yet Carlos continues to gaze upon Moose Man’s cold shoulder with undying love and affection.

Shona Rae

Rusty Caribou Dancer (2022)

Caribou antler, wool, rusty metal, galvanized steel wire

Combing the alleyways of my neighbourhood, composing creatures and critters from found objects and deconstructed antlers with felting techniques enabled me to process fear of the unknown during the pandemic lockdown. I also had a lot of fun creating narratives around the characters that emerged.

Shona Rae

StarFisher (2022)

Elk antler, wool, galvanized steel wire

Composing creatures and critters from deconstructed antlers with felting techniques enabled me to process fear of the unknown during the pandemic lockdown. I also had a lot of fun creating narratives around the characters that emerged. StarFisher guides my dreams both waking and sleeping with insights and inspirations.

Shona Rae

Elk Angel (2022)

Elk antler, wool, galvanized steer wire

Composing creatures and critters from deconstructed antlers with felting techniques enabled me to process fear of the unknown during the pandemic lockdown. I also had a lot of fun creating narratives around the characters that emerged.

Elk Angel is kind and supportive of my new creative process. They Guide my dreams both waking and sleeping with insights and inspirations.

Shona Rae

Elk Angel (detail) (2022)

Elk antler, wool, galvanized steer wire

Composing creatures and critters from deconstructed antlers with felting techniques enabled me to process fear of the unknown during the pandemic lockdown. I also had a lot of fun creating narratives around the characters that emerged.

Elk Angel is kind and supportive of my new creative process. They Guide my dreams both waking and sleeping with insights and inspirations.

Shona Rae

Rusty Hammerbeak (2022)

Deer skull, found metal, wool, oil paint, galvanized steel wire

The Rusty Hammerbeak is a rare specimen of the Woodpecker family that feeds off metal backed beetles in abandoned farms and properties. Noted for their hammer like beaks and sharp claw-like textured chest feathers as well as a penchant for nesting in or around wood and metal workshops.

Combing the alleyways of my neighbourhood, composing creatures and critters from found, broken tools and skulls with felting techniques enabled me to process fear of the unknown during the pandemic lockdown. I also had a lot of fun creating narratives around the characters that emerged. Rusty Hammerbeak was also one of four or five pieces that were inspired by the “Albirda” call.

Shona Rae

Swamp Bird Goddess (2022)

Deer jaws, hoe head, chain, wool, galvanized steel wire

The Swamp Bird Goddess has been extinct for thousands of years but they were common in the swamps of what is now the northern prairies of North America. Their reptilian torso and strange wings with teethlike protrusions must have made them a small but formidable predator.  

Swamp Goddess was also one of four or five pieces that were inspired by the “Albirda” call. 

Shona Rae

Moose Man Dancer (2021)

Moose antler, deer antler, copper rod, wool

A moose horn, gnawed and worn is left on my porch like a sad orphan. I bring it to my studio and set it in a corner for, what, 3 years? Then one day it is set up on the hammer bench and it shines, it glows in all of her/his otherworldly beauty. A dancer dipping their way through a divine ballet. 

Shona Rae

Moose Man Dancer (detail) (2021)

Moose antler, deer antler, copper rod, wool

A moose horn, gnawed and worn is left on my porch like a sad orphan. I bring it to my studio and set it in a corner for, what, 3 years? Then one day it is set up on the hammer bench and it shines, it glows in all of her/his otherworldly beauty. A dancer dipping their way through a divine ballet. 

Shona Rae

Rosie the Cross Dressing Zombie Steer (2022)

Steer skull, deer horns, wool, oil paint, galvanized steel wire

Rosie the Cross-Dressing Zombie Steer is a new character I’ve been developing who is inspired by “Willie” the roping calf at Heritage Park in Longview Alberta. What I have termed, “the Zombification of western culture” has become a subject of great interest to me since I met that little guy.  

Shona Rae

Rosie the Cross Dressing Zombie Steer (detail) (2022)

Steer skull, deer horns, wool, oil paint, galvanized steel wire

Rosie the Cross-Dressing Zombie Steer is a new character I’ve been developing who is inspired by “Willie” the roping calf at Heritage Park in Longview Alberta. What I have termed, “the Zombification of western culture” has become a subject of great interest to me since I met that little guy

Shona Rae

The Evil Magician (2021)

Goat skull, bronze, wool, found objects, metallic thread

The Evil Magician is similar to Bluebeard except this psycho turns his victims to stone statues to decorate his castle and courtyard. As he is attempting to entrap one young woman, she ends up using her golden hair to mend his magic cape and therefore setting off an endless round of sleepless nights for him as his cape becomes a mighty lantern-like object that will not leave his bedchamber. He eventually has to release the women in order to catch a few winks. 

I used a button from my grandmother and one from my father, my mothers darning needle and thread from my friends auntie’s sewing box. The skull is a type of goat skull I found in the alley. I feel like the sculpture was supported by my ancestors. 

Shona Rae

The Evil Magician (detail) (2021)

Goat skull, bronze, wool, found objects, metallic thread

The Evil Magician is similar to Bluebeard except this psycho turns his victims to stone statues to decorate his castle and courtyard. As he is attempting to entrap one young woman, she ends up using her golden hair to mend his magic cape and therefore setting off an endless round of sleepless nights for him as his cape becomes a mighty lantern-like object that will not leave his bedchamber. He eventually has to release the women in order to catch a few winks. 

I used a button from my grandmother and one from my father, my mothers darning needle and thread from my friends auntie’s sewing box. The skull is a type of goat skull I found in the alley. I feel like the sculpture was supported by my ancestors. 

Shona Rae

Baba Yaga’s Doll Hut (2022)

Stag skull, owl skull, deer femur and teeth, oil paint, wool, bronze wire

Baba Yaga is the wise woman or witch in Eastern European folktales. Her house is supported by three chicken legs and it spins and dances wildly two or three times a day. Hands appear throughout the day to take care of Baba Yaga and everywhere there are eyes that appear to keep a watch over her affairs. This represents that she lives in a place of boundless magic, a sacred temple of sorts.  

Baba Yaga is all-knowing, all-powerful; able to pronounce life or death judgments to the common people who may come to her for advice or help. She holds the keys or scrolls to the secrets of life or of the universe. She is the keeper of the profound mysteries that all sincere spiritual seekers must eventually come before. 

My friend found the stag skull and its leg under a bed in her mother’s house and I immediately knew they would become a Baba Yaga piece. I was given the owl skull by a dear fiend who suddenly passed away while I was creating the sculpture. Thus, the tears flowing down her neck. 

Shona Rae

Baba Yaga’s Doll Hut (detail) (2022)

Stag skull, owl skull, deer femur and teeth, oil paint, wool, bronze wire

Baba Yaga is the wise woman or witch in Eastern European folktales. Her house is supported by three chicken legs and it spins and dances wildly two or three times a day. Hands appear throughout the day to take care of Baba Yaga and everywhere there are eyes that appear to keep a watch over her affairs. This represents that she lives in a place of boundless magic, a sacred temple of sorts.  

Baba Yaga is all-knowing, all-powerful; able to pronounce life or death judgments to the common people who may come to her for advice or help. She holds the keys or scrolls to the secrets of life or of the universe. She is the keeper of the profound mysteries that all sincere spiritual seekers must eventually come before. 

My friend found the stag skull and its leg under a bed in her mother’s house and I immediately knew they would become a Baba Yaga piece. I was given the owl skull by a dear fiend who suddenly passed away while I was creating the sculpture. Thus, the tears flowing down her neck. 

Shona Rae

Joe’s Fear (2021)

Steer skull, stag antlers, wool, copper screen, oil paint, galvanized steel wire

Joe’s Fear is inspired by a series of prints the late Joe Faffard created, that portray images of wild animals with shadows of a domestic cow. Was he concerned with the homogenization of our commercial meat supply at the expense of the wild animal population?  

The drawings were started on the steer skull and the carving was about to begin when the Covid-19 pandemic hit full force and suddenly our whole world was turned upside down. As images of the virus began surfacing, I found myself drawing covid bubbles around various skulls. I spent a few weeks cleaning our studio at the beginning of the first lockdown and then I turned my attention Joe’s Fear skull and I began drawing the prevalent wild animal skulls inside covid bubbles. Now we had something to truly fear. The pandemic gave me a whole new lease on the idea of fear. Fear of the unknown, a virulent, contagious disease. As we understand now, the questions and confusion reigned and bred levels of fear unheard of in my generation on a global level.

Shona Rae

Joe’s Fear (detail) (2021)

Steer skull, stag antlers, wool, copper screen, oil paint, galvanized steel wire

Joe’s Fear is inspired by a series of prints the late Joe Faffard created, that portray images of wild animals with shadows of a domestic cow. Was he concerned with the homogenization of our commercial meat supply at the expense of the wild animal population?  

The drawings were started on the steer skull and the carving was about to begin when the Covid-19 pandemic hit full force and suddenly our whole world was turned upside down. As images of the virus began surfacing, I found myself drawing covid bubbles around various skulls. I spent a few weeks cleaning our studio at the beginning of the first lockdown and then I turned my attention Joe’s Fear skull and I began drawing the prevalent wild animal skulls inside covid bubbles. Now we had something to truly fear. The pandemic gave me a whole new lease on the idea of fear. Fear of the unknown, a virulent, contagious disease. As we understand now, the questions and confusion reigned and bred levels of fear unheard of in my generation on a global level.