potassium permanganate – Page 2

a collusion of ideas, Ecoprints and Natural Dyes, in progress, Indigo Dreams, journal: lessons to learn, potassium permanganate, Rust

hexes rising

Posted on January 25, 2017January 25, 2017 by arlee

A few years ago in a Yoshiko Wada workshop, i fortuitously dipped two previously ecoprinted hunks of silk in a henna based indigo pot. In the ensuing years i’ve often dug them out and admired the greeny blue that resulted, though often thought the mud colour induced by chemical reaction over the ecoprints was well, too muddy. Sometimes i’ve wondered about just tossing them or giving them away.

Whew, i didn’t. You never know what will be Useful and Beautiful and Perfect, if you throw it out. The earthiness now of those colours are what was called for in secret by this piece. I listened.

My biggest challenge with this though, is finding a UBP slab of true madder.

I’ve been tuning into certain words and phrases now as i stitch in the evenings, hearing from the strangest sources quotes about memory. A cheesy B movie yielded up “We survive by remembering, but sometimes we survive by forgetting,” and a Cicero quote from an episode of Criminal Minds ““The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” Proves one never knows what might be relevant or inspiring, and from the oddest “sources”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a collusion of ideas, Collision: the work begins, in progress, journal: lessons to learn, potassium permanganate, Rust

are you experienced?

Posted on January 15, 2017January 15, 2017 by arlee

As i work with this large expanse, i’m better appreciating the nuances of colour created by chemical reactions between rust, potassium permanganate and brazilwood. Pinks, purples, teeny bits of blue and charcoal, russets and washed out reds. Amazing how that works, and really wondering how i managed to get such clean whites too!

These long lines of seeded backstitch, paths, divisions, separations, they appeal to the memory and sense, for otherness, unpredictable, centering, old consciousness. I’m struggling to express this in words, but words are an important part of this project as well. I’ve been writing a lot of free association exercises on my work blog, and will be condensing them down to make clear what it is i’m making, sharing, experiencing. I think of everything from Jimi Hendrix, to memories of childhood, passed friends and washed away river banks.

Contextural Fibre Arts Co-operative, potassium permanganate, Residency 2016

black and white, and red all over

Posted on May 30, 2016May 30, 2016 by arlee

Yesterday’s orientation went well, with 25 participants this year, old friends and new friends joining in. We were also reminded that this year’s “theme” for the end of summer exhibit is “Self Edge”, a play on selvedge. HMMMM, ideas abounding.

I was thrilled also to see an active potassium permanganate vat that i can use! This bodes very very well for the challenge plans i have for myself. Photos below are from my 2012 residency.

The big bins that hold donated (or discarded!) yardage from students have grown to three! These treasure troves are large enough that one could fall in! I’ll have to crawl in the next time. I left some–great way to reduce my own unused stash–and took some, just barely stirring the top overflowing layers. And what a score it was!

In my sketchbook for a good while have been plans and scribbles for work using black, white and red. I found approximately 15 yards of red, maybe 4 of black, and a few assorted white in different weights and weaves. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I know there’s some polyester in the mix, as most “broadcloths” sold these days are a 60/40 mix, but that’s okay. Fabric is fabric, and there’s enough cotton in them to do what i need to do.

Now i have to go buy some big plastic sheets to protect tables (HOW did i forget them on the list????), and dig out my notes from the 2012 residency, and hopefully i can get in there tomorrow morning to start! (One of the other Residenciers (? 😉 ) has already screenprinted major yardage!)