Wednesday, April 3, 2013

"Leaving Egypt"

9"x10", newsprint, digital cloth transfer, satin ribbon, printed cloth, leather trim and machine stitching.

I've been thinking about the act of leaving of moving, not so much about where one goes but rather about the place left behind. I lived many years in the central valley of Calif and never liked the area. I had plenty of reasons, conservative politics, unbearable summer heat, small town thinking but in the last year when I was packing up and selling, I took to really 'seeing' what I was leaving. The green fields of asparagus in spring, the acres of sunflowers in summer, the waterways, bridges and islands, the warm evenings and the geese in fall flying overhead. I said goodbye to the parts I loved and when I drove out of town I never looked back!
So this piece relates to the biblical account of leaving Egypt and I couldn't help but wonder besides all the bad there must have been, that last look appreciating  the marshes and the fertile Nile. This piece represents a vestige of what was left behind.
A process I have been exploring has been how to best combine paper to cloth so the piece is not too stiff and can still be machine stitched and soft enough for embroidery. I'm not interested in creating 'quilts' but the composing is tricky for me...anyway I tried using diluted matt medium and next I will try diluted wallpaper paste. Can you see the loose threads representing marsh grass?
Have a great April...!


30 comments:

  1. LOVE this piece....the layers, the materials, the palette.

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    1. Jo, Thank you! I visited your site and traveled through all five rooms of collage...wonderful!

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  2. one word - gorgeous!! love this piece! xo

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    1. Jeane, Thank you...we are a mutual appreciation team!

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  3. I appreciate the variety of materials incorporated in this piece, the geography it represents and the sentiment embodied within that setting. Your words about leaving a little-liked place behind, while still finding something to appreciate about it, touches me deeply as that is the place wherein I've been living for far too many years now. I am ready and willing to leave it all behind--not an easy move, nevertheless. I take courage from your experience and hope that when I go I, too, will happily never look back.

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    1. louciao, Glad you like this piece and my personal story. I traded an agricultural community for a beach town...now I watch whales and hug redwood trees!

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  4. another amazing piece Mary Ann... and I love the inspiration... I can certainly relate... goodbye to the parts you love and never look back... I understand, I left Phoenix that way... would love to see this, it begs to be touched...

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    1. Caterina, It's amazing how many of us have left one place for a better personal choice.
      I'm glad you like this piece...I'm learning how to connect the textures.

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  5. Wow- what a cool piece! I love the combination of materials, as well as the theme/content. It had to have been so scary for them, leaving the place they knew to set off into the unknown. As for combining paper and fabric, I have always used gel medium; I just use an awl to punch holes for the needle for hand sewing. I don't have a machine, so I have no clue about that. I hope is well with you, Mary Ann!

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    1. Sharmon, I agree, leaving isn't so easy...when I arrived here I only knew the mailman and the real estate lady! I diluted the medium and that allowed machine sewing but I've been told wallpaper paste is a better choice as I want to do hand sewing and bead work...we shall see! Thank you!

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  6. It is indeed beautiful and a powerful embodiment of such time and emotion invested. Love your words, as they help me to enter your intention, and embody the work with my own places, losses, loves of the earthly local times.

    Enjoy this weekend!

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    1. mansuetude, Thank you. Sharing my stories brings connection and empathy...as we have all done our share of leaving and arriving!
      Weekend forecast: sunny and windy!

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  7. I didnt know you had moved. i think there are always things that can be missed about any area. but of course, good to move on too. i love that you think about these things and they are reflected in your are. this is very beautiful. i'm interested too in the combination of paper and cloth. and the best way to effect that. this work is a great example of how to do it well.

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    1. Suki, I began in SF, onto NY, NJ and then Los Angeles, central valley CA and ending here Santa Cruz. My move from the central valley was as a widow and it was difficult but I'm so glad I'm here!
      I'm trying wallpaper paste next for cloth & paper. I'm also using rust for coloring fabric...I'll report!

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  8. What strikes me first is I love the colour palette here and especially the use of newsprint. I love how you explore combining different materials. Clever strands of grass too!

    And I like how there is a story behind every piece. This one about moving seems especially poignant. You remind me how when we are caught up in liking and not liking, it's almost impossible to "see". I like how you got to see the things you loved about your previous locale before you moved. I know how easily I get caught up in the liking and not liking mind and forget to see on so many occasions.

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    1. ZDS, I lived there over 15years... of not liking...so leaving on good terms served me well. I'm glad I've lived this long as I'm a slow learner and need the extra time for lessons!
      Thank you...I'm glad you like this piece...staying with the desert theme I used Israeli newsprint! Over 400 oases for inspiration and metaphor!

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  9. I think you've caught the sentiments you express verbally in this piece. How I'd love to see you work because, try as I might, I don't understand your process. However that makes it the more fascinating.

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    1. Bridget, Thank you, glad to know you see the story behind this piece. After one of these is done...I don't have a clue as to how I put it together? ha

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  10. SO loved hearing your thoughts on this Mary Anne!

    The intense experiencing of place when one is verging on leaving is quite fascinating! Its curious who one is washed over in sensations of all kinds.
    This piece is very beautiful and poetic. It is a wonderful tribute and those lose threads are perfect!
    S

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    1. Sophie, Thank you so much and here you are in the beginning of leaving and it is all so interesting...our stories, our experiences. Glad you like the threads!

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    2. Hello Mary Anne, I just returned here from seeing this wonderful image at Robyn's blog. At first I thought it was this April.. and I was shocked to see what I had written. Then I realised... it was from a year ago. So much occurs in a year.

      It is interesting to look at work from another time and see it again... with more ideas or perceptions of the work perhaps.

      I wanted to thank you for passing by my fbpage... and for generosity of spirit when Ive been missing in action and attempting to catch up in the studio for time lost last year. I've had good time for very focused painting again and it took me into a very quiet space where I drew peace and contentment and that caused me to spend much less time online... quite organically.
      I've always loved the atmosphere which you bring to your work. I like what Robyn said ...
      I hope you are enjoying you creative pathway of the moment!
      Best wishes,
      S

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  11. Very interesting. Leaving can be for so many reasons. You never looked back but the parts you loved seem to have stayed with you. Marvelous!

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    1. Karen, Ahhh yes, remember those foggy winters? I do actually miss some parts but of course, not enough to return!
      I'm enjoying the stitching part...machine or hand, it all takes me back to another time!

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  12. I just saw your piece posted as part of Robyn's current blog post. I just love this one Mary Ann! Leaving can be so poingant. Letting go of what was, moving to the unknown even if we feel it is for the best.

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    1. Leslie, Thank you for this comment. This leaving and letting go is not so easy but most of us have had the experience.

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  13. Stunning work. I can see the marshes!! i have never been to Egypt but your piece has taken me there! Thank you

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    1. Susan, Thank you ... I've never been to Egypt but I've had the experience of leaving from the known to the unknown ... haven't we all?

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  14. I so appreciate it when an artist shares a small portion of the thinking that went into their art piece (who could ever share it all?) along with materials and techniques. Your mind and soul shine through this gorgeous piece of work, but those thoughts you shared impart a patina of intimacy that the viewer can cherish and relate to.

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