First full day in the studio in about a week and the pace is frenetic. So many ideas, so many directions. I am full to bursting. Looking over today's scraps makes me think I might want to work a little slower in the next go round.
hmmm.... how can I repurpose this?
For many years I made quilts, shared them with friends, gave them as gifts or carefully rolled them up and put them under the bed. Then a friend of mine encouraged me to enter a show. It was a leap of faith both scary and intimidating. But the rewards were many. Releasing them into the wild reminds me of how my children grew into independent beings. They take on a life of their own. I like to imagine a dialog between my art and the viewer. I've always thought it would be fun to install a webcam into a piece to record people's thoughts and reactions. I hope that instead of asking what was she thinking? that the viewer is inspired to ask what does this piece say to me?
Stream of Consequences is currently at the University of Central Missouri Gallery of Art and Design in Warrensburg, Missouri.
Round and Round It Goes is currently traveling with Quilt National 2013.
Several of my pieces are traveling. The next best thing to being there is to receive a photo of people actually looking at the art. The picture above was taken at the University of Central Missouri Gallery of Art and Design. The man with the backpack seems to be intrigued by the detail, his feet planted solidly in front of the piece. The other two have their arms folded standing back a bit to give him space? Waiting their turn? or bored? I love that Stream of Consequences is hanging next to Kathy Nida's piece, Wise Choice. The quilts in this show must leave the viewers with lots to think about. Thanks to Annie Helmericks-Louder for sharing this photo.
And what could be better for an artist than to see a pic like the one here of a mother showing a piece to her daughter. Thanks to Lisa Kijak who also has a splendid piece in that show for this pic.
If you see an exhibit snap some pics for the artists. Let us know what a piece meant to you. It energizes our creativity and expands our understanding of the art.
The Earth Stories exhibit will travel into 2017.
Kennedy Gallery at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio May 23 – September 7, 2015
San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, San Jose, CA, November 6, 2015 – February 28, 2016
Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV, June 25-October 2, 2016
Erie Museum of Art, Erie, NY, January 20– June 11, 2017
Winter is a great time to see texture. and line. These grasses inspire me. Must stitch soon.
As I was stitching last night I thought about the documentary Alive Inside, a 2014 Sundance film festival award winner about the effect of music on Alzheimers patients. The film is stunning, heart warming and inspirational. I highly recommend it to all. Order it now. Watch it today. Contribute to their efforts.
Really. Do it now.
We all have a soundtrack in our lives. Music that motivates, energizes and memorializes our lives.
What would my soundtrack include? Led Zeppelin, Mozart, Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills Nash and Young, especially Young. And Ray Charles, Erik Satie, Tom Waits, Edith Piaf, Jami Sieber and Jaco Pastorius. Sophie Hunger, Wax Tailer, Beethoven and Florence and the Machine. And how could I omit Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Sweet Honey and the Rock? Miles Davis, Utah Phillips, Leonard Cohen, Nat King Cole, Ana Brun, Ludovico Elnaudi, Gustav Mahler, John Lee Hooker, Al Green and Marvin Gaye. Of course it would also have to include Damien Rice, David Bowie, the Beatles, Phillip Glass, Peter Gabriel, Patsy Cline and Luciano Pavarotti.
Sunstitched, Paula Kovarik, part of a quilt challenge for my local guild.
OK, so the list is endless. It's comforting to think that for all the times we struggle with memory, become lost in life's challenges, or just want to find what the next step might be … all we have to do is listen. The inspiration is there. In the music.
What is on your soundtrack?
A sickening crunch. broken needle, skewed bobbin case. The Brother is down. I felt it in my stomach.
May have to do more hand stitching this week.
