My time in the studio this morning went well. So well, in fact that....
the first round of hemming, measuring, squaring and stitching is done on the large rusty beauties to be submitted for jurying for a 2013 solo exhibition next month.
What do you think so far?
they look terrific. your arm must be ache-ing from all the ironing. how do you get them where they are going without having to iron again? better you than me!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lyle! My arms have recovered from the first round of ironing...and aren't looking forward to round 2. By the time I've finished sewing velcro on the tops of these pieces, they'll need ironing again. After that they'll hang in the studio until jurying day.
DeleteTo transport, I'm thinking either swimming pool noodles, bubble wrap around the wood they'll hang from or large shipping tubes. Oh! With the rusties wrapped around one of them, that is. If you can think of another way, let me know. Suggestions are welcome!
Hooray!! Looking forward to hearing more about the velcro "system". I have to figure out how to hang my silk weed pieces (and probably need to make at least one more). Nervous about screwing up so haven't done anything yet (could totally empathize with your silent scream yesterday!).
ReplyDeleteI ordered sew on velcro and need to experiment with stitching it before attempting it on the real thing. Will let you know how it goes.
DeleteThese look.....breathtaking. Beautiful and a visual wallop! I winced thinking of all the ironing!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Maria! Visual wallop is my aim. Hope the jurying committee agrees next month.
DeleteI heard that sigh - and know it well. Just love what you are doing with rust Jennifer. So many of us are rust junkies and yet look at all the different beautiful things one can do with it ...... who would have thought. Do you find people look at you sideways when you tell them you are a rustluster?
ReplyDeleteRustluster...what a delightful word! And yes, some people do look at me sideways when my love of rust is revealed. Yet there are others, like you and Fiona, who don't hold it against me. Thank goodness we've found each other!
DeleteVery impressive! I heard you exhale as the last one was pinned to the wall. Did you hear my deep inhale as I caught sight of them all in a row? And to think it was just this fall that it all began. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe inhale was heard. Thank you for that, truly. I think it all began during our 1st artist retreat when we both needed yardage. That thought stayed with me and was the impetus for my rusting craze. Sometimes it takes me a bit, but eventually I get there.
DeleteI think I heard that sigh of relief as I slept! Wow! They are beautiful, and they are so true to themselves. they seem elegant, yet strong, quiet yet determined. Interesting! Am I right in thinking you are going to do more 'boro' type work onto them or was I hallucinating? hmmmm. Anyhow have a great Friday!
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DeleteOoops! I'll try to remember to be a bit quieter with my next huge sigh of relief. Don't want to disturb your slumber.
DeleteOh! I love your description of these pieces - elegant yet strong, quiet yet determined. Care to write the proposal for me? Just kidding...kind of.
My original thought was to add just a touch of hand stitching to each piece, but after seeing them hung, I'm not so sure anything else is needed. There's a quiet strength and confidence to the pieces that I don't want to interfere with. Does that make sense?
Oh yes, I am nodding here. I think if they have some other smaller detailed/boro pieces around them, they will shine even more in their elegant simplicity (altho there is also much interest and detail and intrigue in each piece). I can see tiny bits of hand stitching like a secret treasure on each one - nothing obvious, but a special discovery for those who spend time and wander into their heart.
ReplyDelete"nothing obvious, but a special discovery for those who spend time and wander into their heart."
DeleteIt's kind of scary how much we think alike. That's exactly what my original plan had been - hand stitch an inch or so along the curve of one of the circles or where a circle should have been, but wasn't due to how I folded the cotton. Hint at what was there -or what wasn't there, what had faded over the years...or had simply moved along.
As I sit here now gazing at them, my inclination is to let them be. Still, 2 months from now...who knows?