THE GODDESS ARRAY
The Goddess Array is a photo series depicting forty ancient Greek goddesses in the nude with their totems of power. I spent the better part of four years shooting this project in the wilds of Ontario, California, Quebec & Ibiza out of an insatiable desire that welled up from deep within compelling me to celebrate, idolize & share the limitless forms and vibrations women embody & exude as we evolve.
The Greek goddesses are diverse, archetypal & mythological in proportion. I set out to capture them in modern day, refreshed & offered up to us all as strong, free, confident examples to draw strength from, learn from, reflect upon & pray to.
The models are real life goddesses in their own realms. All are friends who responded to my call for brave participants. These women are teachers, mothers, mortgage brokers, musicians, scientists, therapists, designers, lawyers, publicists, yogis, DJs, servers, actors, stylists, dancers, event planners, dentists, developers, writers & so much more. I offered them the list of goddesses and they chose the one that resonated with them the most. After some planning & studying, we would reenact & capture the goddess on film. The act of shooting nudes in nature and in public spaces is always exhilerating for me. It is an act of claiming space for us, a defiant act of freedom. I wanted to put these women up on pedestals and capture their glory in a style reminiscent of ancient Greek sculpture. If you look closely, there is a lot going on in these photos. Struggles of the womb, of health, of mind abound, but also the determination to overcome obstacles and live life to the fullest against all odds.
The Goddess Array is my instinct to hold a mirror up to women through my photos and show them how beautiful they are outside of any cookie cutter ideals. It is an inspiration, a coping mechanism & an art. It is a retelling of history if you delve deeply, a collection of characters, a herstory of epic proportions. It is a delicate reminder we are complex creatures in need of guidance. Like Mnemosyne’s hereditary memory, I hope to remind you of the goddesses who came before. Each one is within you. - Jennifer Toole
The Goddess Array has been shown in three solo gallery shows at Only One Gallery, Milk Glass Co. & #Hashtag Gallery in Toronto. The complete series was complied into a limited edition coffee table book in 2019 published by BookArt in Montreal. There are a few 1 of 1 limited edition 24” x 36” signed prints from the project still available from the last show. Email jennifer@jennifertoole.com for more information.
The Goddess Array in Vogue Italia:
The Goddess Array Project Launch Dance Ceremony:
The Goddess Array Exhibit Invitations: