opening the door

 Trinity came back from exhibition in Vancouver and I was able to touch it again.

(now when i don't know what to do next

taking space between thoughts

pausing,

looking at the sky a lot )

I needed to re-place the velcro strip
and re-mount the textile on it's supporting board,
and then return it to the local church's pulpit.

(just being present

and having self confidence

even while not knowing)

In the book, MY RELIGION, Leo Tolstoy implies that whatever happens in a violent revolution, there will also be an inner and hidden revolution in the people, out of which a new religion will be born which  will have the same effect of making life possible as the Christian religion used to.

We shall have had enough of cynicism, scepticism and humbug, and will want to live more musically.  How will this come about, and what will we discover?  

Instead of seeing absolutely nothing in the future other than the disasters that are bound to strike the modern world and civilization like so many thunderbolts, through revolution or war or the bankruptcy of worm eaten states. 

 Vincent Van Gogh letter to his brother Theo September 24 1888

(being kind to myself

becoming kinder to others

opening that door more and more

seeing what happens when I don't protect myself so much )

signed

judy evelyn grandmom

circle quilts

I had another chance to get close to the meditation panels over the weekend.
I hope you don't mind seeing them again.

They have been invited off the island, so we borrowed them from their permanent home in the United Church and delivered them to exhibit in Southern Ontario.  Above is Earth Ark.

Each time that they go on exhibit, I check them over for flaws, loose threads etc.  I lay them out on our big wooden table and look them over in the sunlight.

I run my hands along their lumps and bumps.
I admire them.  These ginko leaves are on the reverse side of Mended World.

Above, Layers of Time with the bottom edge folded up.
Below, Precious Water.

 The panels are now in Kitchener for May and June.  More information about the exhibition here.

Quilt making is about giving.
The time and labour that went into making these panels was given by many individuals. (149)
Given freely and with joy.
Given so that others might be touched in some way.
So that others might enjoy.

Manitoulin Circle Project comes home

The Mended World exhibition ended its showing at the Art Gallery of Sudbury in early March.  I was impressed with the careful wrapping by collection manager, Deanna Nebenionquit when she packed the work up.  She used tissue paper and cotton tape to fold and roll the four meditation panels.  

I left them like this for a month.  They seemed so safe.

This weekend I unpacked the bundles in preparation for their re-install in the Little Current United Church.     Above is the marimekko back of the Earth Ark panel.

Marimekko panels were the important 'inner' side of all four of these panels, they link to my Finnish heritage.  They also give these pieces of public art an interesting secret self.  

Once unrolled, I stacked the panels onto a bed.  (shown on the wall, a bit of April's painting of a hibiscus)

Unrolling each panel gave me time to handle and consider them again. 

I love the reverse side of the thick linen thread that was used to hand quilt Mended World with back stitch.   reverse side shown above, public side below.

I pay attention to the small area of pale yellow that acts as a subtle focal point of the large panel. 

Precious water unbundled and stacked on the bed.

Ned hung them on Saturday.   Above is Mended World.

Earth Ark

Precious Water.

My husband was supported throughout the two days of installation by Rick McCutcheon.  Thank you Rick.

Carol and her daughter Colleen brought fresh pussy willows for Easter.  Placed between the panels their open armed gesture welcomed the panels home.

Layers of Time

for Easter Sunday

The Four Meditaiton panels of the Manitoulin Circle Project 

now permanently installed

Little Current United Church on Manitoulin Island. 

Perception goes on all the time

 marble fragments from an imperial tomb, 13th-14th century, Istanbul

13th and 14th century marble fragments from Euphemia Martyrion, Istanbul

 a gravestone above, part of an arch below

Travelling is a rich experience.  I receive and respond to so much stimulation in a rush.
I perceive.
Agnes Martin says that perception is the primary experience and that we continue to do it, even when we are asleep.

I packed Agnes Martin's book of writings for this trip to Turkey.  3rd time reading it.

If you do what you want to do and what you can do

and if you can then recognize it

you will be contented.

You cannnot know what it will be 

but looking back you will not be surprised

at what you have done.   Agnes Martin

All images are from the Archeology Museum in Istanbul. 

Cappadocia

11th century
the rock churches of early Christians
World Heritage Site
Goreme, Turkey
my heart responds

tweaking

Tweaking - to adjust, fix, make it hang flat. Because the upper half of the third meditation panel was a bit too large, I took out all of the seams and then put them back together, more snugly. Last Thursday, Siska helped to attach a satin cord that will define the outer circle. Tweak - to enhance, to finish
Satin cords went around the inner and outer circles, and across the horizon. Whew. It hangs flat.
completely hand stitched. old tablecloths and silk. I think I like the inside of this piece even more than the outside. Now Precious Water is ready for the quilt frame. Myra is coming tomorrow.