This was my first effort in using diluted wallpaper paste, a way to attach papers to cloth thereby having an easier time sewing by hand and with sewing machine and allowing less rigid edges. What is nice is after the glue drys it is still possible to lift a piece of cloth....I'm always changing my mind! The center piece and the circle piece were created in part using the flour paste resist process and the result is a crackled design which I like very much. I took the photo of an oasis while watching my DVD on tv and it came out a little blurred...also turned it into sepia toned. Funny, I bought this newspaper when I was in NY about 25 years ago....the ever wonderful gifts of the collage box!
Thinking about the journey in the desert brought to mind my own traveling. We drove across this country in our twenties and for years we took family road trips. We planned ahead with reservations and all but occasionally the road and circumstances would leave us entering our destination after sunset. The gas stations lights glaring, street shadows and neon signs flashing gave a rather unnerving feeling to our road weary selves. So it was easy to wonder about the ancients traveling in the Sinai. Approaching an oasis with babies crying, animals hungry and everyone tired and thirsty. Again moving shadows, a place of safety or not? Settling into sleep and bundling for the desert cold...hoping for the morning light to chase away the fears. Actually daylight has a wonderful way of calming worries.
I love the story of your travels. I can almost feel that sense of evening tension and roady weariness as I read.
ReplyDeleteLoving the combo of black, newsprint and sepia and that crackle effect is wonderful. Yes very evocative of night and desert. Thinking of Linda Ronsdadt's " Midnight At The Oasis". Haven't heard that song in years!
Carole, Yes, the memory of tensions of being road weary...rare and interesting words exchanged!
DeleteYou have me humming "Midnight at the Oasis"!
The textures of night time travels, unexpected memories, rediscovered treasures and pleasant surprises resulting from one's explorations...all wonderfully wrapped up in this piece.
ReplyDeleteLynne, You always leave such interesting comments...thank you!
DeleteLoving the earthiness and the stars above. Thinking about ancient travelers arriving after dark, unsure of what lies ahead.
ReplyDeleteRobyn, Thank you, clearly I was thinking of such fears of the unknown and unexpected in such a case as traveling between oases...very frightful without daylight!
DeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteJann, Thanks so much for stopping by and your wonderful word....wonderful...very much appreciated.
DeleteI love your art
ReplyDeletebut I inhale your writing
with joy
Suz, Your comment is especially important as you are the writer...thank you!
DeleteThe centre panel is very evocative and your words add to the enchanting scene.
ReplyDeleteBridget, I've been having such fun with these fabric discoveries and they have fit so well with this journey...thank you!
DeleteThis piece is very appealing Mary Ann, as is your story that goes with it. This whole series has been a joy to watch unfold.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, So glad you like this one!
DeleteIf I could only remember the dialogue that went with all our road weariness...make for great tragic/comedy!
A really lovely piece, Mary Ann. It's nice to think about the bible stories this way, identifying with those long-ago travelers as real people. I especially love the flour-paste crackle parts; could you share the recipe?
ReplyDeleteThank you...the book "Walking the Bible" was the inspiration for this series...a delightful mix of archeology, history etc....! I sent you an email with info on flour resists.
ReplyDeleteLove this!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
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