13 October 2008

off on a tangent

I'm not one of those artists that can give you an explanation of why I make the things I do or the deep meaning behind them. As I listen to other artists talk about their methods, their intentions, their motivations behind creating what they create, I find myself unable to relate.

That's not to say that I don't understand that there is some part of my brain dedicated solely to creating. The truth is, I don't want to dissect it. I don't want to know where the ideas come from, I don't need to know how I do things, I don't care about the "whys." I enjoy the fact that I have no control over that side of myself and that when I step into my studio, I'm not the one in charge anymore.

And I tend not to post too often about this stuff because...well...kind of makes me feel like I'm standing a crowded room naked. All of it comes from a raw place that it isn't used to being in the forefront so I tend to keep it to myself.

Sounds quirky weird but there it is.

Every once in a while, though, I'm taken off guard. It seems that it doesn't matter what my agenda is, things are going to move on without my permission. I recently learned some new techniques and in two days time, I found myself looking at five completed pieces that are so totally different from what I usually do, that I'm eyeing them with suspicion. This kind of shift has happened before but this feels more extreme to me then the last time I found myself in this position.

They skirt the edge of fiber art, leaning heavily into surface design and collage. I'm not quite sure what to make of them. Here are the little devils:








They are strong pieces. I plan to make more but right now, I'm just staring at them. I admit that I've been feeling somewhat constrained by art quilts lately. I'm in no way saying that I plan to abandon them but I've been wanting....something different. A new way of putting things down to add into the mix.

So there it is. My brain run off on a tangent. Unexpected artwork? Please enter stage left...

I'm also faced with the problem of how to display these. They are a single layer, tons of stuff on the top of them (which makes sewing through them at this point an exercise in masochism) but they really need some kind of backing so that they can hang.

Anyone have a brilliant idea of what to do in that department?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Get you some acrylic strips and glue them with that really strong epoxy glue both at the top and at the bottom so it will keep them straight... You did awesome work on these and I'm still eyeing them :)

Anonymous said...

They look pretty awesome. You could try mounting them to canvas.

Yarnhog said...

I especially love the first one. I wish I could see it more clearly on my screen.

I don't know anything about this sort of thing, so forgive me if the idea is stupid, but could you mount them on foam core? (Very grade school, I know, but it does work for a lot of different things.)

Anonymous said...

I say you leave them in a spot where you will catch glimpses of them. In time, hours, or weeks, they will tell you want they want. No hurry.

Leann said...

They are beautiful. The first one, Indifference, Completely blows me away. The last one, at least to me, does relate to some of your more recent work, but pushed far beyond. I don't know if you'll like this, but honestly, at least with Indifference, I'd like to see it rippling on the wall with four honkin' nails in the corners.

FunkyC said...

The black and white one is superb. It will be interesting to see where you head with this new direction.

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! LOVE them. I am guessing they are from last week's retreat?? Very strong work. I am thinking float and mat.....

I'm still trying to dig my way out of the mess in my studio that resulted when I returned from Canada and just dumped everything. Would you believe my sewing machine, thread tool box and quilt are STILL in the car??

teri

Gisela Towner said...

These pieces are fantastic!
You may want to consider mounting them on stretched canvas or masonite panels.

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