Reflections, Eli and the whooshing sound of time disappearing
I am delighted to report that I will have a quilt in this year’s Dinner@8 exhibit, Reflections, which will debut at International Quilt Festival, Houston, in October 2014. I’m honored and humbled to be in such company as the other artists included, many of whom I know and am happy to call friend.
This year’s challenge was to make a 24″ wide by 60″ long art quilt to the theme of Reflections. Curators Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison wrote:
“A mirror image. A response to a thought or word. A memory. What glints back at us as we gaze upon the water. The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it. What will your reflection reveal about you?“
For more information, visit their website, here.
For once in my life, I decided not to be literal. Instead I thought about our sons. Four years ago, for one of these exhibits, I made a portrait of Joshua playing his guitar. Now, at the same age, I wanted to portray Eli, who is an honor student and star athlete. Though his “first” sport is wrestling, it doesn’t really play well with a long and narrow format! BUT, running does. So I chose cross country season!
For my entry, I wrote something along these lines: When I reflect on how fast time has passed by, I am nearly paralyzed. Like me, Eli prefers to “Do,” not ponder. At sixteen, he is literally and figuratively running headlong into his future.
For this piece I dyed the red fabrics (same batch as those used for the amaryllis quilt–clever how I managed that one, eh?) and some of the ground and foliage fabrics. The remainder are commercial batiks. As usual, I have quilted it very closely. I hope to share more details with you on that. For now, here’s a detail photo.
May 15th, 2014 at 10:16 pm
I hope your boys know how honored they should be to have you immortalize them in fabric. I hear the groans already.
May 16th, 2014 at 2:16 am
Sarah I love your work and think that you are just so talented. You clever, clever you!
May 16th, 2014 at 4:31 am
amazing and wonderful piece ! love it !
May 16th, 2014 at 6:04 am
Congratulations Sarah, really superb art. Hope Eli isn’t too embarrassed at being on show!
May 16th, 2014 at 8:37 am
Super cool beans!
May 16th, 2014 at 9:28 am
In LOVE. Beautiful job Sarah.
May 16th, 2014 at 11:07 am
Absolutely wonderful!