How to Be a Lady

By Candace Simpson-Giles (Note the hyphenated name)
Published in 2001.

Some particularly interesting tidbits:

"A lady learns how she looks best when being photographed."

"A lady knows how to make others feel at ease."

"A lady graciously accepts a compliment. She does not downgrade as if she did not deserve the admiration from the other person or persons. She simply responds with, "Thank you."

"A lady knows that her posture is as important as any article of clothing on her back."

"A lady is mindful of her appearance at all times."

"A lady knows that 'please' and 'thank you' are still the magic words."

"A lady does not raise her voice when angry. It is only proper to shout at someone when he or she is in danger or about to score a touchdown."

"A lady does not lead men on."

"A lady stands up for herself and is never a doormat."

Perhaps, I've been referencing a lady all this time, not simply a "good girl." Good girls are not necessarily ladies.

Business Cards!

Front and back of one card.



Front and back of the other card.
DESIGNED BY THE BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED ALI SABLE.
p.s. Image quality sucks b/c of me. The design is crisp and wonderful.

cHeCk HeR OuT

Portia Munson: PINK!

Interesting meditation on the color PINK. Obviously relevant to my work. My concerns with early/instantaneous gendering and the consumer products that drive color identification in young people.

Rineke Dijstra: Park Portraits

I've been familiar with Dijstra for some time. But these Park Portraits struck me more then any of her other work. And it was through these images that I started to understand her images as a whole. In my examination of these portraits, I focus on how we've been trained to present ourselves, both by our parents and by the camera. How we are poised and pose. And how children already have this sense of maturity and purpose that looks contrived or exterior to their very being.





The girl in the fairy costume is the exception. While she is the most costumed, she is also the most child-like. Letting us live in her fatally with her. Whereas the other children refer very strongly to what they will be when they grow up, or what they already are.

My Work in 75 Words or Less

My work focuses on the stereotype and performance of the Good Girl –– her training, attire, social etiquette, intimate relationships and everyday operational tactics. I explore the inter-workings of her character through documented video performances, testing the limits of her composure, examining the fragility of her cultivated appearance and ultimately asking the question –– what does it mean to be good and what does it mean to be a girl?

Baby Limb Wall Hooks

I find these to be fascinating. And Smart. And Funny.

For more crazy wall hooks, not related to dolls.

What Happened to Sally?

This is a new work, commenting on the overwhelming influence of pink in a young girls life.

Untitled Doll: March 2011 from Whitney Warne on Vimeo.