15" x 20", muslin, digital transfer, printed fabric, felt, stencil, silver embroidery, machine stitching and braided twine. This piece began with the cup. I discovered this ancient cup on the New York Metropolitan Museum Of Art site. This beautiful cup shaped and marked begs to be filled with steaming tea...it is timeless. Good design is always good. From the digital transfers of this cup I was drawn to my scrap of printed stars and mixed markings. Over the years I have found my morning coffee or tea to be sacred...as an altar cloth. I no longer rush into the day and I almost never schedule appointments before 11a.m. I added a look of old by the worn fringes and the yellowed muslin....it has taken me a lifetime to come to these precious mornings. This time holds a place of leaving my night dreams and as the stars flee the sky, I begin in peace, to move into the morning...sacred indeed.
I spent yesterday using bleaches of all varieties on cotton...quite an interesting adventure. I did it all outside and only a few spilled spots of bleach on the deck. It is a true mystery what bleaches and what colors the fabrics turn. It depends on the colors of dyes used in creating the fabric and again, plenty of surprises! I will spend one more day at this and then see how they might fit into this art making...still loving this fall and winter exploration of fabric and sewing!
You are such an explorer! I love that you are working with a number of different mediums. Cloth is calling to me. I watched a short video the other day about using plant materials and wrapping them in silk and immersing them in a dye bath.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you are having such fun and I love your description of your sacred morning time. Now you have a beautiful altar cloth to accompany that morning cuppa!
Maybe it is the cooler days and nights that draws us to cloth and thread? The video you describe on silk immersed into dye baths sounds fascinating and other worldly!
DeleteAfter viewing your last 4 posts Maryanne I am convinced I should like to visit, she says impertinantly!
ReplyDeleteI think its the number of times you have mentioned or discussed things that resonate deeply leads me think how rewarding it would be. If honest I should like to visit many from the the bloggy world... still... its true the feeling I have for the very potent symbols you so often refer to. These cups are timeless... and I love how the ancient world offers so much that is timeless and must surely humble us into remembering eternal things are reborn over and over and over and perhaps true forms that have archetypal power just are part of the cultural dna!
I like getting out of the way of any possible stylistic tendencies in rendering and looking for the timeless forms.
I like then the way you arrive at your pieces...feels so connected to your living and daily rhythms... such a fine way to live Maryanne!
I've read and reread this wonderful comment and I thank you for such connection and support. This journey forward and back is sacred to me...ancient memories for us all!
Deletethis piece has so much texture and I would love to touch it. the cups in repetition remind me of new beginnings and your cloth and bleach sounds like a great adventure... enjoy...
ReplyDeleteCaterina, Will I ever find the bottom to these fabric scrap boxes? I think you and I share in a large assortment of gathered 'things'!
DeleteI begin in peace, to move into the morning...
ReplyDeleteMary Ann, your words resonate deeply. I can understand why the ancient cup inspired you to create this lovely piece.
Robyn, Here we all are all over this planet starting our most sacred mornings...I'm so smiling!
DeleteThree cups of tea. And I'm thinking of the three of cups from tarot, which I know so little about. You're right - taking time to start the morning is the best kind of start to the day. Always feels precious to have that time. Love the rich red against the yellows.
ReplyDeleteI had to look up the three cups of the tarot and it spoke directly of what I have been feeling while making this piece...joy! Thank you!
Deletea nice balanced feel to the composition in this painting. the colors soothing and appealing to the eye. and the concept behind the piece is lovely. taking a sacred time to sip tea in the morning and ease into the day. this is a fine priveledge of "those of a certain age." When younger we must leap into the day, race to get the kids to school and husband and self off to work, dash through traffic and gulp the coffee on the way to the work station.
ReplyDeletenow, the blessing of a slower rhythm when we choose.
Suki, You clarified so well this earned peace of morning coffee or tea. A time to ease into the day rather than at high speed. Thank you!
Deleteagain! so interesting and pleasing to the eye!! I never tire of reading about your process and how it works for you - I totally am loving these cups and this textile exploration is wonderful xox
ReplyDeleteYou always give me a smile with loads of encouragement too...thank you! Now I'm spending time and money at the fabric store and the art store??!
DeleteOh, those tea cups look positively joyous: they are doing a little Conga-line happy dance! Ah, the morning's sacred sip. Bliss! The worn fringes of the altar cloth...reminding us that we may be a little rough around the edges as we make the transition from night's dark dreaming to morning light; nevertheless, none the worse--perhaps even more beautiful!--for wear.
ReplyDeletelouciao, Yes, yes morning cup of sacred bliss! I love my mornings now that I can ease into the day and worn fringes do not begin to describe the worn out shape I'm in but yes, still enjoying the morning cup!
DeleteOh, my, you have put every medium there is into this, haven't you? I'm amazed by the facility you have with all these media, and more. How ever do you learn them so quickly? this piece is just a joy, Mary Anne- the colors, textures, the subtle perfection of the repetition of the cup shape... I wish I could see it "close-up and personal".
ReplyDeleteSharmon, First, I have all day to do as I please and art making is what I love. True, current reality breaks in every so often...laundry, meals, banking but most of the time I'm in the studio! Thank you so much for your good words!
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