A Message for my Daughter by Erika Masterson
Artist StatementA Message for my daughter is a collection of 30 images of 9-10 year-old girls draped in flowers with a significant meaning meant just for them. They represent the vulnerability of young girls based on the messages that their mothers give them.To create the work I gathered participants for the project, asked their mothers for five words that describe their daughter, then chose the flower that had similar meaning based on a Victorian flower dictionary and the book, The meaning ofFlowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.I bought and made fresh flower crowns and scarves for the girls to wear along with vintage Victorian dresses from my collection.These photographs represent the vulnerability of a young girls spirit. I am seeking to spread a positive message to mothers and their daughters and share the beautiful spirit within them through flowers.Erika MastersonPhotographic artist