organic, labour intensive, energetic marks

no. IZ  detail  Yayoi Kusama  

No. IZ  Yayoi Kusama  (Japanese born 1929)  oil on canvas 1960 

The First Part of the Return From Parnassus  detail  Cy Twombly

The First Part of the Return From Parnassus  Cy Twombly (American 1928-2011) oil, coloured pencil, lead pencil, wax crayon on canvas,   1961

Vast Ocean  Gunther Uecker (German born 1930) paint and nails on canvas over wood  1964

Vast Ocean Gunther Uecker detail

The three artworks in this post are just a taste of what I was able to see in Chicago earlier this week, selected because of their simple yet lively marks.

The three artists who made them were all born within two years of each other. They were toddlers at the same time but lived in different countries.  They turned twelve during WW II.  When they were 30, they made paintings like these that fifty years later remain relevant.  

Human experience, imagination, risk.  Our connections.

Ned and I visited our daughter this week.  She is studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and these pieces are part of the collection of the Art Institute's gallery.   I'm glad I was able to experience them face to face.

Canadian Pioneer

I started this quilt in 2008. 
First, I cut vertical strips from old blankets and then sewed them together. 
Then slashed a curve right through them.
Then mended that.
Then felted the whole in the washing machine.
It survived all these things.

Risk after risk.
"I do, I undo, I re do"  (Louise Bourgeois)

Made completely from wool.
Wool blankets, a woolen skirt,  wool fabrics, wool yarns

backed with wool, couched with wool

Finished in August 2012,
and named Canadian  Pioneer.

Clarity

In the afternoons, I've been driving into Little Current to stitch Precious Water, the meditation panel currently in the frame at the church hall.  I go alone.  

The marks I make in the pre-textured fabrics are invisible, but they will last.  This pleases me. 

 I'm using silk thread,  a thick needle, meandering stab stitch and withdrawal from society.  

I'm so motivated to work right now. To getting my work DONE.

"You only have so much time.  Spend it on your work.  Organize your day around your work."  
Penny McMorris

padded satin stitch

In this post, a tutorial for one of the techniques used in the third panel of the circle project. padded satin stitch First draw an outline of your shape. Here evenly spaced dots are drawn with ball point amongst the offset pattern of factory stitched dots. With chain stitch and single strand of silk or cotton floss, cover the drawn line with embroidery. Continue with chain stitch until you have completely fill in the shape. With the same thread, begin to cover the chain stitch with false satin stitch. Go back and forth across the shape until closely packed. Each dot takes about 20 minutes to do. The original design on paper has changed slightly.

Domestic Art

Mother Canada front detail

Today we installed eleven pieces of my art work in Whitefish Falls for the distinguished artist part of the LaCloche show. All but one use stitching as the main technique.

Before we left, we had to wait for this two sided piece to come out of the dryer. It took courage to toss months of work into the laundry machines but I do love how the linen fabric has shrunk and acquired an 'old' texture and the red cotton threads took on a more interesting line.

Mother Canada back detail

A peek at the rest of my work installed is in my updates.

Liturgical

A grave yard in Normandy.

Liturgical: Pertaining to the established ritual for public worship


Spiritual: Pertaining to sacred things, essence as distinct from matter

gorgeous antiquity

These wonderful old saints are in the Rouen cathedral. I believe that they used to be outside for at least a couple of centuries. We should all age so well.

Mysterious Mont St. Michel

wall
floor
floor