Here is the story of “Grape Expectations”. It is part of an on-going series I’ve been creating for three years, called “What Remains”, and it is a reflection on impermanence, human and natural disintegration, spirit and memory. For this show I am musing on where colour comes from and how it lasts in our imaginations. I imagine there will be lots of interesting contrast with the chemically produced colours used by other artists.
I dyed white woven wool using only grape vines from my garden and rusty metal scraps. I ended up with two pieces, mirror images of each other, and chose one of them. The back shots show the rusty bits. The colours are soft-focus and delicate and the patterns come from the metal and botanical imprints. It is a whole cloth quilt and has been machine quilted using clear invisible thread and edged with a free-motion zigzag stitch.
I hope the show is a huge success, as it will travel to about 20 venues across the country, be displayed at Quilt Canada 2015 in Lethbridge Alberta, and then the 40 pieces of art will be auctioned off individually for The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. Kudos to the CQA/ACC and membership director Laine Canivet who have organized this!
October Update: My piece has sold in the very early days of the show! Thanks and enjoy, to the new owner.
