Wonderful....

Have a very wonderful 4th of July weekend filled with fireworks, picnics, laughter, and joy.

American Needlework

As we celebrate the birth of our nation I figured it was appropriate to celebrate the artist's who began the history and lineage of American needlework.
The above image is the supposive very first American Sampler embroidered by Loara Standish, a Mayflower passenger. The story says she embroidered it while waiting for a lover lost at sea. To read its history go here.

early American sampler

During the 18th century sampler designs changed to include the familiar bands around the sides to create borders and include motifs such as the alphabet and everyday scenes.

Rebekah Rider, 1820

Eventually schools were begun where young women learned to do needlework under the watchful eye of a teacher. The amazingly gorgeous sampler above was made by an 8 year old!

a detail of Betsy Ellis Huthchinson, 1831

Samplers often celebrated the genealogical pride of American heritage as seen in Saba Cushman's sampler- in which she notes her ancestors back to the original settlers.

As an artist utilizing the medium of autobiography and needlework I feel proud and honored to be connected to this amazing and inspiring lineage of American women. To read more bout these samplers go to the excellent website here.

working...

I am feeling at a loss for words- but here is a peak at what I am working on in my studio.
Feeling it only toward the image work.
I feel like my text work needs to have shift and am searching for what that means....

we suffer, we love...

I just recently read a review on the current show Those who Suffer Love at White Cube Gallery in London on the new work of Tracey Emin and wished that I could drop in and see the show. As always Emin's work shocks, creates discomfort, and moves you from within your soul.



I greatly admire the courage and gall of Emin to create such overtly provocative art and to do so in a way that has kept her relevant for over 25 years. And it seems that her show at White Cube proves that she still has much to say, or scream.


The center piece of the show is a 1 minute animation featuring her trademark drawings of woman masturbating. A conflicted view of female sexuality- something most modern women can relate to.


Also included are some neon works and prints.
In the press release Emin states:

The title for my show is self-explanatory: love rarely comes easily and if it does, it usually goes quite quickly. And there is death, and loss, which at some point in our lives we all have to deal with. I’m constantly fighting with the notion of love and passion. Love, sex, lust – in my heart and mind there is always some battle, some kind of conflict.

Seems that no new fiber works were included but they are always an inspiration to see.



The show coincides, quite intentionally, with the release of a giant new monograph on Emin's work. Something definitely for my Christmas list.

finally...line...

enough said.

walls & curtains.

Read my article on the very inspiring and innovative artist Samantha Fields here.
Samantha explores the roles of home and femininity through her work.

whimsical wonder...

Through a sweet flickr comment I stumbled upon the very sweet and whimsical work of Karen Grenfell aka MimiLove. She combines lovely watercolor paintings with stitches and embroidery. Under her hand the two mediums flow perfectly together.

The detail and color in the work is quite amazing and inspiring. I always play with the idea of layering patterns and words into my work and just have not yet explored it...But Karen's work makes me want to try.

Mimi uses layers to build meaning in the image, in the above piece Spider, she has the main spider image, little tiny black spiders, a spider nursery rhyme, and a drawing of spider man. Love it!


She even has a little Yellowbird piece. A lovely lady after my heart.

Karen has a website, blog, etsy shop, and even more.


So leap over and see more.

frustrated...

It so annoys me how an apartment or home just keeps getting dirty. It, the home, is sometimes like a perpetually needy child always needing care, attention, and help. Sometimes it drives me crazy. Why can't my table sty clean and beautiful.

I am choosing to ignore the cat hair, sticky counters, unfolded clothes and escaping to my studio.
Thank goodness I can.

recuperated.

Back from sunny and hot florida... where we mostly did what is demonstrated above...sleep.
No actually we did a lot of swimming, eating, and sipping of cocktails too.

And it was just what I needed a long break of guilt free laziness.
I now feel recuperated from the last months busy schedule and resulting burn out and am ready and excited to get back into my studio, my work, my aggressive applying for shows and such, and as soon as my new computer is bought a thorough updating of my website and re-design of the bird here.
Though it may take a few days for me to suck it up and go spend the money on the computer...but as you can tell from the horrible image above- I am still unable to open Photoshop. Kind of a major issue for an artist & blogger.

So do not worry I will not forget to post images of line... once computer problems are fixed.
And with my new found energy I suspect some fabulous new images of work in progress soon.

To see a better image of the above embroidery check it out here.

woah, gorgeous...

Such a lame post title, I know, but...that it what I thought when I saw the work of artist Ari Tabei.
A friend from grad school just forwarded me her info and I swooned-


When I saw her use of texture, shapes, layers, and garbage... I was enthralled. I particularly love her texture and the way her garments both flow and also clog- both protect and constrict. Very complex and satisfying as a visual experience.


Ari is a performance artist, originally from Japan, who creates home and womb like garments to explore ritual, healing, her ancestral culture, and transformation.



Ari states:

I make garments and bags to create nests that are like my own home, my own world. These function as cocoons for me, to heal and nourish myself so that I regain strength to survive when I emerge from them. Interacting with the garments and bags, I invent ritualistic play that revives my childhood experiences and interprets the influences of my culture. In my current series, I use different materials and processes to explore specific meanings. With these materials, I package my body to disconnect myself from reality, but also to tie myself to it.

My interest in rituals lies in my experience, as I grew up in Japan... I am attracted to the power and beauty of rituals such as tea ceremony, kimono-wearing, and traditional Japanese wrapping techniques. They are all based on the adoration of the beautiful in everyday existence. This aesthetic teaches us purity and harmony and the mystery of the nature of human beings...As I engage myself in the performance of ritual play, my intention is to reach for understanding and transformation. In this practice of conscious engagement, I seek a truth about self and a transformative process which reveals both desperation and hope.

Desperation and hope- A theme we can all relate to, and one I hold close to my heart.