Thursday, March 29, 2012

cloth for life and death

what are the embedded ideas, concepts, metaphors that have driven the making of textiles since the beginning of human culture? covering
warmth
protection from the elements
human need for beauty rituals that help us deal with the mystery of life and death which of these are still valid? all of them

18 comments:

Anne said...

Beautiful! Lovely blog ~ I'm now following ~ ♥♥
Best,
Anne

Jeannie said...

Beautiful

Lesley Turner said...

beautiful images

Jennifer said...

Just beautiful...especially the last. I so badly want to see your large piece in person. It is simply exquisite. But then all of your work is. Enjoy.

mansuetude said...

a beautiful photo essay.
Deeply felt.

Saskia said...

am not a religious person and yet all I can say here is AMEN

Valerianna said...

Seeing these images brings another layer of meaning to your wrapped pieces, I hadn't seen them so much as shrouds before.

As a ritualist, I find profound richess in marking the transitions along the path.

henrietta (aka ani aka zani) said...

As with as first breath of life we start the process towards the last breath - so expressively presented here in the ritual of what we call living. thank you

Ms. said...

You are a fine artist of the first degree. Beautifully conceived, accomplished and presented. Did you know that humans are the only ones who speak and vision things conceptually? THIS MAY INTEREST YOU AND YOUR READERS:
http://blogs.plos.org/mitsciwrite/2012/03/28/the-weak-link-in-the-chain-intelligence/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+plos%2Fblogs%2Fmain+%28Blogs+-+Main%29

Heather said...

The photos are like the documentation of a performance piece. Beautiful. And I am reminded of a blog I recently visited, (but sadly can't remember the link) documenting a funeral of a young man who chose to be buried in a felt shroud rather than a coffin. It was beautiful too, the cloth wrapping seemed so much more personal and caring than a wooden box.

Nancy said...

Oh my. Deeply stirring images, story.

lynda Howells said...

Beautiful images.Themes and images about death and their rituals have always fasinated me. These will go into my large collections...thanksxxlynda

Els said...

Beautiful post Judy !

Velma Bolyard said...

yes. you're right.

Jacky said...

Wonderfully moving piece Judy... I was really touched by this post. Such beautiful imagery portraying a story of life.

Jacky xox

Anonymous said...

My brother lies dying this day. I am so moved by your exquisite gift to us .
Jennie

Anonymous said...

Beautiful cloths, incredibly reverent and meditative essay. Thank you.

Susi Bancroft said...

This is a profoundly moving and beautiful piece - thank you!