Monday, August 11, 2014

Lifetime of a tree

"Tree of my Life", 14"x23", cotton cloth on muslin, hand stitching, machine stitching, hand stamped with my own cut stamp and 1/4" trim tape on top with rusted string at the bottom. Sides are printed cloth with stitching and creme glass beads cover one leaf. I have kept this cloth piece in neutral colors from the tree to the leaves. One leaf is covered in glass beads and is quite striking but doesn't show up much here ... it reminds me, with myself smiling, of a favorite barroom serenade "The Last Leaf" by Tom Waits. I'll look for the song and see if I might post it!
It feels good to complete this series and take the time to sit back on these slow summer days and review my other adventures: "Traveling to Distant Planets", "Sacred Vessels", "Finding Directions"", "The Citadel", and "Walking the Desert" to name a few. For me it's always about the next journey ... the one I take in the comfort of my studio!! It all began when my sister and I would sit on the big scratchy sofa( I was 5 or 6) and have waking dreams of ourselves in different lives ... a little psychotic but it has served me in art making.  I plan on putting together a couple of cloth pieces on wood panels as a connector to the new/old direction.

6 comments:

  1. stunning piece Mary Ann, love the neutral palette for this piece and the oh so special beaded leaf, summer on! xo

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    1. Oh Jeane, Words like a blessing ... I'm taking it in and smiling, thank you!

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  2. Great piece BSD, has a very Modern feel.

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    1. Maggie, Thank you ... modern you say ... interesting!

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  3. Mary Ann, loved your Tree of my Life piece. The materials you chose have a personal quality that matches the title. And the Tom Waits song was an extra bonus. I had not listened to him for a long time, so hearing that voice again brought back some very nice memories.

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    1. Barbara, Thank you, the leaves are a stamp that I carved myself. I listen to Pandora radio and I have Tom and other favorites playing most days while I'm in the studio ... fun!

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