The Red Boat - in progress #3

There's been a whole lot of piecing materials together,

stepping back to look,

noticing little details and, of course,

sewing.

There's even been a curator's visit and selection for an upcoming exhibition so, while the full piece can't be shared yet, The Red Boat is complete. Well, as complete as a work is sans hanging device. Does that count?

My mind is now contemplating what to make of the remnants...

The Red Boat - in progress #2

Last night I dreamed of being back in Newburgh, Scotland and standing by the river's edge, searching for the red boat even though India let me know that as of her last visit, it was no longer anchored midst the Tay.

In my dream, a low, gentle sound could be heard in the background. 

Almost a low rumbling, like very far off thunder, 

but not quite. 

Regardless where I walked along the shore, this sound was present. 

 It wasn't threatening, but was insistent.

Sort of like the friendly growl one receives from a pup who wants to play.

Not an airplane though, nor cars driving through town. I woke from the dream shaking my head and stifling laughter (didn't want to wake the house too early) because my waking mind recognized the sound immediately. Can you guess? 

By Thursday night, I'd printed what felt like hundreds of layers and had sewn 6 panels. This was how the display board looked at quitting time. Good, but too many panels.

Yesterday morning, I decided to see if it would be possible to crop the photo so that the whole boat fit on one page. To achieve this, the paper needed to be 13 inches x 11 inches rather than 11 inches x 17 inches as the rest of piece is. 

It worked great - one panel replaces two, giving a less cluttered look and feel. As this is all one humongous learning curve, I've been sewing the photo in strips - or panels - as cropped in Photoshop. While I like the look of the uneven panels as well as the movement they afford, I still wonder at my original intention to sew it all together into one big piece, rather than it being one large piece comprised of smaller components. The jury is still out on that one.

The extras stack is growing, providing ideas for additional works.

My one complaint about my printer (Epson Photo Stylus 2200) is that it gives no warning when ink runs low. That lovely yellow in the middle should have been red. Seems I'd worn out the light magenta.

So, have you guessed the sound that was present in my dream yet? Yes. My sewing machine. Time for a break today, wouldn't you say? Enjoy!

The Red Boat - in progress #1

I've practically been glued to my sewing machine so far this week.

Once I overcame my fear

of totally screwing up when the sewing began, that is.  

At some point yesterday, after panel 2 was hung (left side of photo), I stepped back to look...and breathe...and admire. Is it proper to admit that? Yes. After all, if I don't like my work, how can I expect anyone else to? Still, there's something special at play here. Perhaps it has to do with place, people, memories.

As the stitching continued throughout Monday and Tuesday, my mantra was keep it simple, just keep it simple, let the photo be the focus, keep it simple, simple, simple.

After feeling stagnant all winter, the energy in the studio is welcome and wanted. The ideas are flowing, some so fast that they are only snippets or shadows moving across my mind. There, but not. Or there, but not yet fully formed...or formed enough to be cohesive yet.

Midst the whirlwind that is presently my creative mind, panel 3 was begun, bringing with it the first glimpse of the red boat.

The Red Boat

This past Wednesday I had an idea, a grand what if involving my favorite photo of the red boat that was on the River Tay in Newburgh, Scotland back in 2013.

I use this particular photo all the time when working with the tea bags - partly because of the beauty of the place and partly for the memories and profound effect that week in Scotland had on my art and life...and continues to have.

What if I printed that photo large? Not 10 inches x 12 inches or even 24 x 36 large, but L A R G E. Six feet wide type large. Could I? How? What would it look like printed on multiple sheets of tea bags? Did I actually have enough tea bags? There was only one way to find out - just do it.

Thursday found me sitting at the computer and figuring out how to do all the technical work in Photoshop. Friday I cut freezer paper to 11" x 17" and attached it to the same size printer paper to help add stability to the page when feeding it through my printer. Yesterday morning, I lightly ironed tea bags to the pages and began printing.

And printing.

And printing.

Between 35 and 40 pages. So far. 

Multiples of the same area to allow for depth, and possibly movement, when all is done.

There were minor blips, a few tea bags became wrinkled a bit going through the printer. 

The Red Boat, in progress

still attached to freezer paper

71 inches x 54 inches

The fun begins tomorrow when I start sewing...

Dreamscapes at Westport Arts Center

I am honored that my piece Water Dreams 3 was juried into DREAMSCAPES at the Westport Arts Center.  

The opening reception is this Friday, 6-8 pm. Hope to see you there!

171

171 tea bags

generously donated,

opened, emptied and unfolded,

awaiting ironing.

How was your week?

For some reason, I always seem to have a difficult time settling into the new year. The first weeks find me drifting along, unable to focus for long on much of anything. Lists are made and promptly lost in the clutter of the studio - so more lists are made, ideas jotted down on whatever is at hand and promptly lost or inadvertently discarded, etc, etc. It's a vicious cycle that can only be broken by one thing - a good decluttering of the studio. That done, I was finally able to be productive this week.

Much stitching took place while listening to several recorded books - Sarah Addison Allen's Lost Lake and First Frost. Next up is Alan Bradley's latest Flavia DeLuce novel, As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust.

While working on my piece for Silvermine Arts Center's Signed, Sealed and Delivered fundraiser,

the abstract left on the newsprint when ironing the excess bees wax out of the piece caused many new what ifs to spring to life.

We had a skiff of snow earlier in the week

which graced the rusty gears with just enough to be charming.

I played with photographing shadows

and yesterday morning's pre-dawn snow

which was heavy, wet

and perfect for making snowballs and snowpeople...or so I've been told.

You see, while the family ventured to the ski mountain yesterday (my little urchins are on the ski team's development squad this year), I trekked upstairs to the studio

where cutting, cropping, repositioning, stitching and bees waxing took place. 

It's time to heat up the iron and see what emerges.

How was your week?

Home again for a bit

My pieces from the Alchemy of Tea exhibit at the Cornelius Arts Center arrived home safely over the weekend. I finally had time yesterday to open the tubes and hang the larger pieces in the studio. It's nice to have them home for a few months before they go adventuring in the spring.

Alchemy of Tea

Lone Star College-Kingwood Fine Art Gallery

May 20–June 24, 2015 
Reception/Artist Talk: Thu, May 21, 12pm

Alchemy of Tea - part 1

ALCHEMY OF TEA

Barbara Bartlett's Mobilitea

"Alchemy of Tea brings together a group of national artists inspired by tea.

Mari Omori, Barbara Bartlett, Jennifer Coyne Qudeen, Elizabeth Alexander (pedestal)

This unique and stunning collection of work provokes viewers to ponder the transformation of tea from its consumable and degradable form into art.

Bridget Conn, Barbara Bartlett (pedestal), Mari Omori

Tea has been part of sacred rituals across the globe for centuries. The fragility and golden hues found in this collection project the historical and spiritual roots of tea, while each artist's subjects juxtapose a contemporary take on tea as a medium and muse.

Rodney Thompson, Elizabeth Alexander (pedestal), Mari Omori

From installation to photography and porcelain to encaustic - this exhibition has something to inspire everyone.*

 Barbara Bartlett, Mari Omori, Jennifer Coyne Qudeen, Elizabeth Alexander (pedestal)

Last weekend Pam and I met in Charlotte, North Carolina for the opening of Alchemy of Tea at the Cornelius Arts Center, curated by Jen Crickenberger. The six artists whose work comprise the show are Barbara Bartlett, Bridget Conn, Elizabeth Alexander, Mari Omori, Rodney Thompson and myself.

I am so honored to have been included in Alchemy of Tea. Many thanks to Jen for her in creating such a high quality exhibition.

Part 2 of this post will show the work in more detail than these gallery shots.

*text from Cornelius Arts Center