Last week I complained about an entry form that wanted to know my age, as if that is important to the kind of art you make. I'm pleased to report that entering "0" did not get me thrown out for bad attitude. I was the featured artist on yesterday's "Artebella," the daily email from the Louisville Visual Art Association. (click here to see the entire post)
I sent in photos of my recent hand stitching project, words of advice. Not sure I have shown them to you before, so here are all three that I have completed. I used a set of small linen napkins that I acquired at our monthly grab bag, and mounted them on larger squares of linen.
I was disappointed that they didn't use the artist statement that I so thoughtfully wrote for this series, but seized upon "making her own clothes" and "quilting," references they found by apparently checking out my blog and website. I try to escape the Q word but can't run fast enough. But they did spell my name right!!
Here's what I have to say about the advice series:
After a career in journalism and corporate communication, I resolved to have a new life in visual art -- but I couldn't escape the text. And after decades of making fiber art with a sewing machine, I have happily resumed the simple hand stitching that I learned at my grandmothers' knees.
These samplers are a combination of old and new, as are so many of the good things in life.
Some of the advice is ancient, some is as new as the century. The found linens, lovingly used for decades on someone else's table, carry an aura of family tradition, now repurposed. Some of the advice is handed down through the generations; some is handed up from young to old. Choose the advice that you like best....
I still need to make the last piece in the series, "Two Words of Advice," but I have used all the napkins in that set and need to find two little napkins that will be the right size and character to work in the series. Just remember, "Carpe Diem."
love that "never letterspace lower case" advice. Here's one someone said to me. I keep it posted on my bulletin board.
ReplyDeleteAll reds go together. And you can never have too much orange.
Never letterspace lowercase was one of my-father-the-typographer's mantras. I've used it in previous samplers. One of the small pleasures of such a family mantra is that most people don't know what you're talking about, but those who do will appreciate it even more. (thanks for being in the latter category!!) on
DeleteI delight in these pieces - really wonderful work that speaks to me on so many levels. "Take what you like and leave the rest." has helped form my outlook on life, the found napkins, the samplers of advice - just love these.
ReplyDeleteI cannot get close enough in the photos to see what looks like openwork? Maybe these were part of the original napkins?
Anyway, thank you for giving me a boost of inspiration this morning. Good art makes me happy to be alive.
yes, the openwork was part of the original napkins -- you won't find me doing that kind of thing! Interestingly, somebody -- perhaps the original needleworker, perhaps making repairs -- had stitched over some of the openwork in dark gray thread,which looks really crude and out of place. But I left it there on general principles. (Four words of advice: leave well enough alone.)
DeleteThese are really clever & it was fun to read through the sayings. Just the juxtaposition of newer & older sayings adds interest & humorous.
ReplyDeleteFive words of advice - keep doing the good stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good use for dinner napkins!
Pearls of wisdom. I never liked "letterspace lowercase" but didn't know the term for it. Just knew it looked unnatural and harder to read. Your little samplers are delightful.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a bit of a movement brewing- where contemporary artists move away slowly from the work they have been so praised for, and seek the comfort of the family mantra. A close friend here in Canada received every accolade and award as a renowned oil painter, moved to Fibre and again succeeded to take top awards all across Canada and beyond with her art quilts and is now devoid of all of the trappings, except her favourite pieces of both paint and fibre. She has taken up her Nova Scotian Nana's rug hooking as the go to art form... and the work is stunning. Hand stitch from Judith Martin is recognized in the same way, as you remember from Q=A=Q, and so many others have hand stitch as their saving grace. Love it!
ReplyDeleteBethany
What size of napkin do you need? I can check my resources...
ReplyDelete