in progress – Page 12

drag point

Posted on February 6, 2017February 7, 2017 by arlee

There comes a time for me with every piece that is a drag point. I’ve been “in the zone” with the whole, but suddenly the whole has more parts than i realized, and there’s only so zoney you can get, to get it done! This is such a large piece, and it has many parts, not only in design and execution, but in meaning, so i’m looking at the pauses and stutters as part of the thinking process. I’ve done a lot of reading and research, something that had fallen by the wayside for awhile. I missed that, and am glad to be taking that time again.

The meanings of memory, of remembered, and true, time, the flashes of forgotten experience, the daily recognition and reflection, what would you do if you had no cognizance of most or any of this? Mental illness, dementia, repression, amnesia, delusion/illusion, cognitive conformity (oh that one really frosts my cookies), moral licensing, (the previous two can be/are linked), and most strangely of all, lifelong severely deficient autobiographical memory (SDAM) , and highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM). What if you could remember *everything*??????????

I remember things from when i was 3, vivid memories of sneaking into the bathroom and taking one of my father’s razor blades (the real ones in those days), sitting on the top step of the stairs and slicing my thumb open, and knowing i was going to be in trouble for it. From the same time, i remember re-assuring my younger brothers (they were 2 and 1) that the loud noise at night was just a train going by. I don’t remember anything from ages 9 and 10. I remember too much from some really bad personal years, but, as in the old joke, not what i had for dinner last night. Some of my memories are distorted, integrated with someone else’s, stolen, i know that from talking with family or friends, who remember differently. Absence of memory, strong memory are protective mechanisms, talismans, guides (yes, do it, no, don’t), for me.

And now i remember i have limited time.

I’m close to done most of the hexes on the left panel of this work (more than these photos show), and wanting to “balance” the right side, will be adding more hexes, but with a different feeling, and configuration. (These photos are also “sideways” because the section is so long, easier to view this way, the bottom actually on the right!)

Next step will be to choose the threads for this side. The main one may still be a bamboo colourway “Stormy Weather”, of which i will have JUST enough (it’s ir-replaceable, as a gift and from a private dyer), OR this one below, and some warmer toned threads than the blues/greens i’ve been using on the left side. That red silk for “under” the hexes has been with me for at least 20 years!

I’ve used the hexagon shape over the past years in many ways, usually symbolizing nature and connectivity, and now have added the element that the hexes represent memories—connecting and referring to each other but separating, compartmentalizing, fragmenting as we get older–as we age the connections become disparate, as time and self dissociate.

And i still don’t have even a “working title” for this.

embrilting, in progress, journal: lessons to learn

a stitch, or many, in time

Posted on January 30, 2017January 31, 2017 by arlee

“How did it get so late so soon?” ― Dr. Seuss

Time and space are slowing with this one. Since the last “photo session” on the 25th, i have added 11 more hours worth of stitch to this area, and feel (while i’m loving it) that little more has been done…………..

Intricacy, tiny occlusions and inclusions, artistic license *and* accuracy, the Devil is in the details as They say.

(I however have to pick parts of that top hex out, as it woogled and borgled.)

The indigo was definitely the right choice.

I’ve had to make tons of notes as i go along, because there are many steps for working each section of the neuron. I keep missing little bits as i go through each one!

I wanted to add what i thought were synapses somewhere, but my thinking about this has been wrong. I thought a synapse was a totally different animal, but research shows me it’s the space “between” neurons.

I can appreciate the beauty of this though, as it’s not all cut and dried facts. My favourite shot to date below, though the lighting is not true.

The “hand” of all this stitching is sore, but the “hand” of all this stitching is so wonderfully tactile too 🙂

I had a big long discussion with myself originally on this post about “meditative” and “mindful”, but blah blah so i deleted it.

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, embrilting, in progress, Sketchwork

stitching in semiotics

Posted on January 24, 2017January 25, 2017 by arlee

I wonder how meaning is created, not what it is. Symbolism, connotation, iconography, denotation, synecdoche: Memory.

(Sketch of normal neuron from 2011)

A long time ago, i worked a series i called the Artist’s Body. Bones, hearts and brains fascinated, still do fascinate me. How do all these things come together to make a living, breathing entity? Now i’m focusing on one of the more “ephemeral”, unquantifiable aspects of the brain, memory.

Not all of us will fall prey to Alzheimer’s, though most of us as we age, start having faulty memories, the connections becoming disparate, as time and self dissociate. And when you really think about it, all of life is memory, except for the moment of NOW, that changing moment of awareness as we live it, and instantly it becomes the past, another memory.

Memory is time as illustration also. (Even as i write this, i have to refer to my trusty Stitch Journal, for dates…) On the 22nd, i spent 5 hours laying this out and hand stitching.

Yesterday, another 5.25 hours:

I’m almost where i can start adding the indigo underneath certain pieces.

And can something so drifting and fleeting be so tangible to, and in, physical touch? Palpable, stirring, substantial, as i run my fingers over this.

in progress, Jam Day, Residency 2016, Samara

me break stitching

Posted on January 17, 2017January 17, 2017 by arlee

Erm, not that i broke anything! I’m just giving myself a stitching break from the big work, by going back to a project started last summer.

Samara has been languishing for a good while: ennui, boredom, what-evering (not to be confused with what-if-ing….), lack of direction. I dumped some threads on her to see what would work.

Above, while i love the colours and the combo, too bright for this one. They are however being used on these little bits, destined for something else:

These are what i’ll use.

Still bright (ish), but more toned to her taste 🙂

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday’s sampling with the indigo for/in/with hexes was heartening, but not ready to reveal that yet 🙂

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.

a collusion of ideas, Collusion: sampling, in progress

saddled up again

Posted on January 8, 2017January 8, 2017 by arlee

After much coin, and many many hours of patience on Greyman’s part, the computer has been completely replaced, and is humming along again. Whew. Fortunately i had managed between freezes to back up all my files!

I didn’t get as much stitching done as i’d wanted to–that pesky life interference thing: dishes, groceries, laundry, housecleaning, etc etc etc etc……………–but i’m happy that my idea will be able to be used on the background of the large piece i’m working on.

From this old sketch:

to this little sample piece:

Halfway through the stitching, i kicked over the box of paints from previous weeks sketching, and grabbed the bronze Lumiere for some discrete application. Just enough shine, but singular enough to be a feature as well. (Actually it was pretty dried up, but a bit of distilled water, a shake and a stir, and it was good to go again. Waste not, want not!)

I’d been looking at bits from Raggedy Black Heart, (also the current background for the blog) and really liked the idea of using the idea again.

My Valdani threads arrived, but alas, i don’t think any of them are going to work on this piece, as beautiful as they are!

I had thought the second from the top one would work on the potassium permanganate sections of the background, but it’s too pale and has too much white. And the dark threads are too dark! One of the pitfalls of online shopping is unfortunately, incorrect colour on the monitor, and alas, most shops have photos too that are so dinky, you really can’t tell what you are seeing properly. Luckily, my 123 order threads *are* the right colours as i’m just replacing the ones i’ve used up. Still, they are a lovely addition to the stash 🙂

I also managed to get a fair portion of the second seam done, though have to wait for the final run of threads down it, as i’m out of the Sticks and Stones colourway. One seam looks like another, so won’t show you that!

January has been extra cold and bleary, so it’s lovely to see my Tithonia in bloom!

And my Jalapeno and Chocolate Beauty peppers under the growlights have blossomed and fruited!

I’m going to stay as unplugged as i can for awhile, as tempting as it is to waste so much time. I tend to obsess over certain sites, or do too MUCH research and i need to concentrate more on being in the stoodio. It’s fine to be “inspired”, but if you never do any work, what’s the point? I don’t want to be just an idea stacker, but a doer.

in progress

chasing the line

Posted on January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 by arlee

As it turns out, i do have enough of the variegated silk i am using in the middle of this section, but ran out literally at the end of the line of the Caron Sticks and Stones! Yesterday i was going through my threads and realized it’s not only been a good while since i replenished the stock (Nov 2014???), but that the stash is actually getting quite sparse!!! I have two orders on the way now, from Valdani in Edmonton, and from 123Stitch in the US. Again, it pisses me off that even with shipping and currency exchange, i can buy those threads from 123 cheaper than buying in Canada………….BUT at least i now know after some searching that a local store carries the Caron collection, so in a pinch, i can get a number/colourway i need immediately. (Assuming they really do have the stock their website says…)

Obviously this will be the last shot for awhile of this particular piece, because though *I* know there’s been major progress on it, most will get bored seeing the Same Old Same Old in terms of “wow factor” 🙂 After all, how many times can one show a line of seeded backstitch, even if it is growing?

Jan 1 progress, another 12″ stretch:

I deliberately left the above photo quite large, so you can ooh and ahh if you like 🙂

And as of last night at 9PM, the full 46″ length:

I can start the second “seam” tonight, with the variegated silk, adding the Caron when it comes. I may still add to the first one with another colourway to further blend, but i don’t want too much of that wonderful background encroached on, as i have ideas for the rest of the “background” before and as i add other elements.

I figure there’s about 15 hours of stitch time in there now, but alas, today i must return to the ffFlower Mines, so will be stabbing at it as i can, in the evenings.

And still not even a “working title”, so that will be today’s ruminations.

Collision: the work begins, Ecoprints and Natural Dyes, in progress, Residency 2016, Rust

appreciating what you already have

Posted on January 2, 2017January 2, 2017 by arlee

When i created these fabrics during the 2016 Contextural summer residency, i knew i liked them but stashed them away as for use in a Someday project, thinking they would probably just be cut up, and incorporated into other projects.

They are beautiful. They can stand on their own. I hadn’t really really Looked at them. The softness of the colours, the strong yet delicate markings of rust, the motifs that occurred during the process are perfect for a background, while having enough interest to accent in some areas as i move through this piece.

I didn’t want a seam down the middle, so i tore one chunk in half and attached it to either side of the main fabric. This is going to be a large work, as you can see by the yardstick left in there for scale 🙂 (I’ll have to have an appropriately sized stretcher bar set custom built, as i haven’t this size in the stoodio!) The seams aren’t terribly obvious, because of the similar colourings and process, but they are there enough that i wanted to segue them into each other. Immediately, i knew i wanted to use my technique of melding the fabrics into each other with a multitude of seeded back stitch. (I used that technique a lot on “Ebb and Flow” from 2014, on the indigo pieces.)

On New Year’s Eve, i watched part of “Expendables” and then all of “Expendables 2” (i deliberately choose “Cheesy B” horror or action films to keep my mind and fingers activated, but not concentrating on the tubage.) and in the space of three hours, managed a section of 12×2″. These seams are 46″ long so i need to update my watch list!!! HA! “You WILL be a-seam-alated!” (I think i’m SO funny….) (Edit: as this post goes live, i have another 13×2″ done—yeah!)

So far, only two variegated colourways have been used there, but a third will pop in as well. One i am going to run out of, hopefully not until the seams are done, because it’s just not available anymore! The other two can be ordered again, and hoofies crossed that the batches aren’t so different as to be noticeable to anyone but Moi. Below, though the differences are not terribly apparent–which is kind of the point of blending—-i’ve used a silk in the centre, edged with a Caron Wildflower Sticks and Stones. Those edges will be edged into also with another Caron Wildflower “Pebbles”.

Unintentionally, that “strip” echoes the squiggly lines of dye and rust. The subconscious mind at work i suppose, because watching cars blowing up and manly posturing with bazookas sure didn’t influence it.

On the fun side of things, i pulled this out and have started playing with it. A riff on the original Beautiful Bones from 2009, and conceived in 2010, it’s mindless and silly, and an enjoyable change from Serious Art!

a collusion of ideas, Collision: the work begins, Days of Honey, in progress, journal: lessons to learn, Residency 2016

“You’re doing it all wrong”

Posted on December 31, 2016December 31, 2016 by arlee

Brain farts. Can be good, can be bad, sometimes brilliant, sometimes SO SO SO stoopid……….

Why re-invent the wheel?

Though i will still be using the procion dyes, i decided this project NEEDS fabrics created during my summer residency at ACAD. My evening’s “celebration” includes a glass of good wine, a cheesy action movie and the first 8″ stitched of a large commission that will take most of my next year! So, happy new one to every and all.
Salut!