Saturday, October 03, 2015

weighed down

The whole fabric field needs to burst wide open.
We are all inhibited somehow by certain nice standards.
I don't know how such a break through can be accomplished.
We are weighed down with such a preconceived idea about what is acceptable.
We are in a new time when fabrics are suddenly relieved of all science, of all utility,
of all function other than aesthetic.
We still don't know what to do with the new freedom.  It's an exciting time.
This is Ed Rossbach's text - published in Beyond Craft: The Art Fabric 42 years ago.
It's October, and I put a heavy linen quilt over me.  It helps.
(I've shown the front of this quilt many times).

14 comments:

EricaSta said...

I see and read between the lines... Understanding.

Mo Crow said...

thank you for this introduction to Ed's work

Margaret said...

All those stitches and the piece still moves, flows, ripples. Perhaps it is the hand. The stitch, machined in that density, might produce a board...Part of the excitement of fabric: how it responds to manipulation?

Judy Martin said...

Thanks for noticing that, Margaret. xo

susan hemann said...

love the quilt! just ordered his book from the library

Judy Martin said...

Jack Lenor Larsen and Mildred Constantine wrote Beyond Craft; The Art Fabric. Ed Rossbach is one of the artists that they write about. I gave amazon links to the book about his body of work, and also to the Larsen-Constantine book.

Which ever book you ordered Susan, I am sure that you will like, but Beyond Craft is a true classic. I was gifted a few months ago from my cousin Jane, who found it in a used book sale at her local library. It is a real treasure and full of inspirational artwork from the 70's. Like Magadalena Abakanowicz's early abakans. gorgeous and timeless.

thanks for visiting and for commenting
x

Roxanne said...

You have broached a loaded subject. I am inspired to consider it. Thank you.

Hannah Lamb said...

Something that worries me from time-to-time. How can we break free from the niceties of textile? Should I? Do I want to? I delight in the comfort and cosiness of textile (both as a material and an art world) but I also know this is what restricts us. I don't feel ready to rock that boat just yet...

Hannah Lamb said...

Sorry, Judy, I forgot to say how much I enjoy your recent reflections here. Thanks for sharing.

Heather said...

I was at a meeting of a bunch of artists and the old "How can we tell what's art and what's craft" question came up, and someone said "Doilies don't count." To which I huffily replied, "Doilies rock, man!"

The medium doesn't limit us, only our minds do!

jeanne hewell-chambers said...

Sleep is always sweeter when taken under a quilt.

Morna Crites-Moore said...

This stitch work is astounding ... if I see correctly that this is who knows how many stitches, hand stitches ... absolutely stunning.

Morna Crites-Moore said...

P.S. I have that book - Beyond Craft - Doug gave it to me one year - he found it at the library used book sale. :-)

Judy Martin said...

Thanks Morna. Yes - all hand stitches, and hand dyed fabrics. Seen from the back, hand stitched quilts make me swoon. thanks for stopping by and for commenting. x