Thursday, October 12, 2006
Did I mention that this New Orleans quilt is kicking my butt? 'Tis. But I am finally (well mostly) finished with the top. It's crazy. I wish I could show you but my photo uploading is messed up. So sorry.
Can I describe it? My idea was to take the visual energy from the Mardi Gras Indian costumes as the central theme and to incorporate the shotgun houses, the life-death-life cycle of the magnolia and jazz music itself. I could never hope to imitate the costumes themselves (costing in the 10s of thousands of dollars and up to a year to make) but I liked the medallion idea. So in the very center is a Mardi Gras coin from 1968 that says Amor (from my own collection). It sits upon a 3 inch dark purple velvet circular saw blade (hooray for re-building!) From there, it is all about the outward movement of energy. There is chaos, there is movement, fire and water and herstory and symetry in a diliberately off-beat way. There are rough edges and shredded cloth that is sewn back together like confetti. Easily, I can say that I have never worked harder on an art project mentally. I have spent years on some but the work was easy - just tediously time-consuming.
But not with this one. This one held demons. This one tortured me in sleepless nights. This one holds chaos and uncertainty - like New Orleans itself. I hope, through the harmony that there is and through the bright colors and outward movement, the piece shows the optomism and vision that Syd wanted me to portay for a New New Orleans. But I have to say that I am not Pollyanna. I felt pain and frustration along with the celebretory and phoenix-rising-from-the- flames qualities of the city.
The top is finished.
Now it is on to the hand work (beads, etc.) and the quilting. Yup - it sure is kicking my butt and I sure do appreciate the challenge.
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In other news - Lisa Vogel's 50th birthday party was sooooooo much fun!! Oh my gosh - glam glam glamour! People were so beautiful - radiant faces and glowing smiles. There were loads of fun fashions and who knew we had so much energy to dance dance dance?! Julie Wolf, Vickie Randall and Barbara Higbie changed the lyrics to songs to incorporate Lisa and jammed the night away on their key boards. And the FOOD. Oh my DELISCIOUS HEAVEN. It was amazing. LV leaned over and whispered to me, "Well - when there is no alcohol - we get to focus on the food!" and so they did - thai fish wrapped in banana leaves, grapes covered in blue cheese and pistachio nuts, polentas and peanut sauces, assorted imported cheeses and crackers, espresso cream chocolate cake....but there were so many familiar faces that I hardly had time to eat. I kept flitting to the candlelit table (we sat next to members of the Dance Brigade) and then jumping up to hug hello and catch up with beloved friends from festival. It was a surprise to see so many out of town faces: Susan and Gretchen and Ann and Elizabeth and Caroline and Edie and Chloe and Elvira and Nate and Sandy and Barrie and Suetree and Nora and Pat and Deb and Linda and Animal and Chris and Jackie. Others too, of course, but there were so many faces along with the all of us local gals...
It was great to see so many people so happy and relaxed. Especially Lisa. She was genuinely beaming - trying not to levitate from happiness, I think. It must have been humbling to see all the love poured out for her. Not for her production, but for her. There were many tears and words of gratitude and lots of laughter too. It was an honor and a joy to be amoung our tribe in such a fancy setting. Lia (and Terri Lynn and Chewey and Erin and Edie and ....) did a great job. Everything was elegant and charming and full of love.
Can I describe it? My idea was to take the visual energy from the Mardi Gras Indian costumes as the central theme and to incorporate the shotgun houses, the life-death-life cycle of the magnolia and jazz music itself. I could never hope to imitate the costumes themselves (costing in the 10s of thousands of dollars and up to a year to make) but I liked the medallion idea. So in the very center is a Mardi Gras coin from 1968 that says Amor (from my own collection). It sits upon a 3 inch dark purple velvet circular saw blade (hooray for re-building!) From there, it is all about the outward movement of energy. There is chaos, there is movement, fire and water and herstory and symetry in a diliberately off-beat way. There are rough edges and shredded cloth that is sewn back together like confetti. Easily, I can say that I have never worked harder on an art project mentally. I have spent years on some but the work was easy - just tediously time-consuming.
But not with this one. This one held demons. This one tortured me in sleepless nights. This one holds chaos and uncertainty - like New Orleans itself. I hope, through the harmony that there is and through the bright colors and outward movement, the piece shows the optomism and vision that Syd wanted me to portay for a New New Orleans. But I have to say that I am not Pollyanna. I felt pain and frustration along with the celebretory and phoenix-rising-from-the- flames qualities of the city.
The top is finished.
Now it is on to the hand work (beads, etc.) and the quilting. Yup - it sure is kicking my butt and I sure do appreciate the challenge.
------------
In other news - Lisa Vogel's 50th birthday party was sooooooo much fun!! Oh my gosh - glam glam glamour! People were so beautiful - radiant faces and glowing smiles. There were loads of fun fashions and who knew we had so much energy to dance dance dance?! Julie Wolf, Vickie Randall and Barbara Higbie changed the lyrics to songs to incorporate Lisa and jammed the night away on their key boards. And the FOOD. Oh my DELISCIOUS HEAVEN. It was amazing. LV leaned over and whispered to me, "Well - when there is no alcohol - we get to focus on the food!" and so they did - thai fish wrapped in banana leaves, grapes covered in blue cheese and pistachio nuts, polentas and peanut sauces, assorted imported cheeses and crackers, espresso cream chocolate cake....but there were so many familiar faces that I hardly had time to eat. I kept flitting to the candlelit table (we sat next to members of the Dance Brigade) and then jumping up to hug hello and catch up with beloved friends from festival. It was a surprise to see so many out of town faces: Susan and Gretchen and Ann and Elizabeth and Caroline and Edie and Chloe and Elvira and Nate and Sandy and Barrie and Suetree and Nora and Pat and Deb and Linda and Animal and Chris and Jackie. Others too, of course, but there were so many faces along with the all of us local gals...
It was great to see so many people so happy and relaxed. Especially Lisa. She was genuinely beaming - trying not to levitate from happiness, I think. It must have been humbling to see all the love poured out for her. Not for her production, but for her. There were many tears and words of gratitude and lots of laughter too. It was an honor and a joy to be amoung our tribe in such a fancy setting. Lia (and Terri Lynn and Chewey and Erin and Edie and ....) did a great job. Everything was elegant and charming and full of love.
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