Catalog Entry from If These Walls Could Talk Exhibit, Neill-Cochran House 2020:

“When asked to create a porcelain sculpture of Thin Mints for a Girl Scout benefit, I was taken back to my own scouting experiences in the 1960s. Scouting was a big deal in my small hometown of Springdale, Arkansas. I adored Girl Scout Day Camp, where we picked wild strawberries and got ticks (the camp nurse burned one off of my neck with her cigarette!). My mother always volunteered and always got latrine-digging duty. Even more adventurous was the two-week camp at some lake in the Ozarks. There I learned the glories of astronomy and “Indian lore,” how to gobble up sticky s’mores while singing soulful campfire songs, how to fold the American flag, and how to avoid eating canned beets in the mess hall. But, as a woebegone overachiever, my favorite activity was earning badges. To make this piece, I needed models. The design of the current Thin Mint box just didn’t ring my bell, so I found online images of vintage Girl Scout cookie boxes. Still, something was missing. The local Girl Scout office lent me a framed full set of badges. Then I dug into my mom’s old cedar chest where we found not only the badge sashes for me and my three sisters, but also a green skirt, tie, and beret. Even better, there was my Brownie beanie and belt, and a coveted pocket knife. It was great fun to hand build and glaze these nostalgic items. I’m still partial to the sash full of badges… and yes, this time I got to put on ALL of the ones I always wanted, even the Gypsy badge. To take the sculpture beyond sentimentality, I added an incongruous portrait by Thomas Eakins, which hangs in the Dallas Museum of Art. This young woman is daydreaming, an essential activity for all girls.” (Artist’s Note from 2008)