It's only recently that I have had the courage to block large quilts using my pin wall.
Myra Tallman, my friend and 'tradition of quilt making' mentor, encouraged me to go ahead and use
my own washing machine to wet wash the work before
stretching it with pins onto a flat surface.
I am lucky to have a pin wall made from 12 inch ceiling tiles.
This pin wall is my most important design tool. It allows me to step back from my large pieces.
I also use it when I have my work photographed.
After air drying for a few days, the quilt is as thin and flat as any art gallery would desire.
It speaks for itself and needs no explanation.
My intentions are not the subject.
The object is the subject.
Not a word out of me is needed.
Louise Bourgeois 1992
10 comments:
I'll bet it was heavy, though, when wet. Took an impressive amount of upper body strength to move it from washing machine to wall. Must admit I held my breath until I read about how nice and (desirably) flat it is now.
Wow. It's magnificent.
And I thought an 8x4 sheet of foam was a big wall. I'm inspired to sidle up to my contractor (my Goodman) with a smile and suggestion. And wish I had the courage of conviction that the blacks in K1 are fast enough not to invade the white. Coward I am, steam blocking will have to do...thanks for the inspiration.
Yes, it was very heavy. Picture me on a step ladder holding it to the wall with one arm and also with the other arm while that hand inserts many pins. (many of which bent)
However, it is amazing what a tiny pin can hold, when in company with many others. Women should take that as inspiration and fix the world.
I'm afraid to try this with some of mine because of the dyes used! And isn't it amazing the Herculean strength we have when we need it for our loves and passions?
i think being around your design wall from time to time would be invigorating, indeed.
The hand stitching textures turned out amazing after washed. I only washed my bedspread quilt and it turned out okay. I love all the circles - Hugs Nat
i'm liking the graphed wall as a useful tool for lining things up on, let alone its qualities as as a vertical ironing table
i like your idea. gives a whole new meaning to "pinheads" . . .
Not a word out of me is needed.
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I like the ladder--imagine climbing up, leaning on the golden ridge there and hoping into the blue to explore the other dimension there. (You are, after all, missing from the picture.)
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Can't imagine how those pins hold her up there either. Love your pin comment, a new kind of beautiful liberated pin-up-girls imagined! :)
I'm so stealing this for my quote box:
It speaks for itself and needs no explanation.
My intentions are not the subject.
The object is the subject.
Not a word out of me is needed.
Louise Bourgeois 1992
I'd rather not say a word about a piece itself, other than the title.
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