  The grayscale photos "auditioning" for placement “A Crowd of Strangers” has just been announced as a ribbon winner in Houston. It is in the Large Pictorial category. This is the largest quilt I have ever (and probably will ever!) made; over 80” wide. RE the subject: It is a conception of how we go through our daily lives, each in our own bubble, even when surrounded by so many other humans. What a shame. The people shown here originated in 15 different photos that I took of people in my urban setting over the course of a couple years. What struck me was the lack of human interaction portrayed in each of the photos, so it was important to me that even when the people are put all together in one crowd they still remain strangers. RE: the process: The people were initially each printed separately in grayscale, so I could move them about on the background fabric until I found the composition I liked. There were many techniques used to color and finish the piece. The people are all raw-edge applique, the ground is woven stripes of fabric, There are layers of tulle or organza over areas to add shading, depth or cohesion. The entire surface is heavily stitched with both hand and machine (table top). RE: the artistry While the composition was extremely important to me, as was the depth of field of the image, the lighting was less so. Each of the original photos was taken at a different time of day, and I wanted that feeling of “not quite in the same place at the same time” to remain part of the slight uncomfortablity of the piece. I think it serves to reinforce that each person is in their own time and space even in the same environment. RE: the details (click on each to enlarge):
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From September 1 through the end of the month, my work will be on display in the first floor north gallery of McGuffey Art Center. Below is an overview of my work that is hanging on one of the walls. It is a continuation of my "Urban Voyeur" series, and depicts scenes captured in downtown Charlottesville, VA. The other wall of the show is a combination of my ceramics and more experimental finer work. To read about them and see an over view Click Here!  Here are some of the pieces included in the show. Click on each one to see larger image      Recently I have been playing with using the batting of my pieces to create the textures. I use various lace type fabrics under the photography that has been printed on sheer organza. The examples and details that follow show how this can be an effective way of adding layers and textures when accompanied by additional piecing, layering, and stitching. Urban Ghosts: The people we pass by every day  Pavilion Morning  Urban Pauses Details.  Just Thinking - 51 x 35, International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX, 2021 Innovative Artistry Award  6' of Chaos - Quilt National; Purchase Award by International Quilt Museum, 2021 To see a video about this Quilt National 2021 award winner CLICK HERE  Sidewalk 2 - 25 x 67, Form not Function, Carnegie Museum, 2018  Union Station - 35 x 55, International Quilt Festival, Houston Texas, purchased by IQF
 Morning Treasures - 37 x 26 Brush Art Gallery, Lowell MA: Best in Show 2017 Process & VideosTo learn more about the process of making this entry CLICK HERE  Virginia Beach, 25 x 35, Whistler Museum, Out of the Blue |
