Thursday, October 18, 2012

Searching for Roy G Biv - Indigo

Indigo

 A fisherman's kimono,

 a worker's kimono,

 as well as quilts - all wonderful examples of indigo and boro.
I had the delight of viewing these pieces in 2005 as part of an exhibition
at that year's Surface Design Conference in Kansas City.


If you've been following my blog for very long,
you might

 or might not

remember the indigo monoprints I did in 2011. 
They are packed away, waiting to taken out and completed.

 Detail of vest I purchased from Juanita Girardin at the 2011 Smithsonian Craft Show.
Constructed from vintage indigo dyed Japanese cotton.
Handwoven, pieced, stitched.

My indigo stash waiting patiently for one day.

I have to say that indigo was not an easy color. Next month's violet - which I am choosing to interpret as good old purple - should be much simpler to find. When I thought indigo, I kept picturing kimonos or indigo dyed fabrics. There were dark blues that were considered, but discarded...possibly because these photos were waiting.

Julie has indigo as does Fiona. Do you?

14 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you ELFI. And thank you as well for visiting my blog.

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  2. gorgeous! so glad you had those photos to show us! thanks

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    1. Thank you Lyle! I have to admit that knowing these photos were handy also made me a bit lazy about really searching for indigo. Not so with next month's violet. Enjoy!

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  3. Well girl...a nice showing of Indigo! I especially LOVE those monoprints...not sure you need to do much more than frame them. I remember you purchasing that lovely jacket(and all the crazy ways your thought of wearing it!) ;)

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    1. Yes, you were there when the vest was purchased. That was such a fun day! We need to do that trip again. Maybe next year...

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  4. Wow - these are great - love all the indigo garments, patchworks and your prints. Makes my wabisabi heart sing XX

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    1. Oh my! Knowing that my indigos made your wabisabi heart sing warms my heart as well. Thank you!

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  5. Although I was going to wait until I had completed my version of the indigo challenge, I could resist looking any longer, Jennifer! I love that you found some themes that are so inherently indigo. Your prints definitely draw me to a color that I don't tend to use in my art, home or wardrobe. After seeing the kimonos & your prints I find myself thinking that indigo is almost like a neutral (which makes me like it even more)...
    - Lisa

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    1. Lisa, I totally understand you not using indigo in your art, home or wardrobe as I feel...or felt...the same. Only in the past few years have I become enamored with indigo fabrics - since 2005 actually after the exhibition at the Surface Design Conference.

      What had me mono printing with indigo paints last year? I honestly don't know, but it did and still does speak to me. The mono prints need to be revisited and re-viewed with a thought toward keeping them simple.

      Shall we make indigo the new black? Ha!

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  6. Replies
    1. Anna, I am a truly honored by your comment. Your work is so wonderful - a source of inspiration and centering for me, if that makes sense. I rarely comment, but visit it often.

      Thank you so much. Please come visit my blog anytime.

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  7. Those indigo monoprints are beautiful, I hope you'll re-view them and finish them soon! And show them to us, of course. I wish you made some more...

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    1. Thank you Ersi! The indigo prints definitely deserve being reviewed. I forget how many there are all together, but only 6 or so were worked on with hand stitching, etc.

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