Street Art Denver

I am in Denver this week spending some time with my daughter. It is really interesting to be in a city that has such a vibrant art presence. I am especially smitten with the these large posters we have seen on several walls throughout the city.

I would love to know who the artist or artists are. It is such an interesting addition to the street and I would love to hear the back story.

Explorations in Color.

I have been on a mission this summer to make cloth samples from every dye powder on my shelf ... a little bit boring to dye the small one color fabric samples ...but... during the course of the week I play on on a larger piece of cloth mixing and layering colors so I can explore the interactions between multiple colors and removing color. 

The shapes you see that look like bones ( to me) were created using soy wax for a resist before dyeing with golden yellow and medium blue.

 

 Over-dyed with fuchsia.

Then I applied Jacquard Discharge Paste in circle shapes using a muffin tin for a stamp. After covering the surface with these wonky looking circles I let the paste dry for a bit then steamed each circle to remove the color. The fuchsia disappeared leaving the underlying colors and was very exciting to watch during the steaming process. Yes Rosie... I was wearing my Darth Vader mask for safety!

Threads of Mine

Threads of Mine is a abstract textile interpretation of underground mining. In March my friend Gary and I displayed this exhibit at Governor French Gallery in Belleville, IL.

Fugitive Dust is a term companies use to describe mine dust that escapes the mine. Coal mining towns used to get a grimy appearance. This piece of discharged cloth was perfect for making this piece.Mining companies have gone to great lengths to clean up this type of pollution in the mining process.


Fugitive Dust
21 x 20
350.00


Stand Alone ( right hand column) was inspired by the writings of miners who described taking off their protective outer clothing at the end of a shift, so many of them wrote "My pants were so grimy they would stand alone" This was such a great image I had to create my own stand alone pants. Using a product called STIFFY to wet the pants. Geez ... this is starting to sound a bit weird! I put the folds of the cloth where I wanted them and let them harden and then painted them to get he grimy coal dust appearance.
Stand Alone
33W 32 L
100.00

Mining is dangerous work and we all owe so much to miners who are willing to work so that we might have comfortable homes. The latest tragedy in West Virginia is one of many mining disasters throughout history and my heart goes out to the families and miners living in this community. I wish them comfort today and the days ahead.

Dance Like Leona's Watching

Leona my puppy loves to watch me dance in the mornings. I think she would like to join me. How to teach a dog to dance? This is a good question. I am back to morning pages a habit I have done on and off for 12 years thanks to Julia Cameron's , The Artist's Way. I am using dance and the pages to clear the emotional and physical clutter left over from the hectic pace of the last 3 seasons. Now if dancing and writing would do something to clear the clutter in my house. I have not seen my camera since Christmas, my IPOD since November.

Spring,Summer, and Fall are when I design discharged tee shirts, dye scarves and cloth to sell at local boutiques and Holiday markets. These pictures were taken at Peace by Piece in Belleville, Illinois. The peace sign was a big hit this year.

These rayon burn-out scarves take the dye beautifully and make great gifts.

Meet the " Quilt Chicks"...

These ladies Carol ( holding Leona) ,Lisa, Kim a.k.a. ....mom, sister ,sister. We met once a week for several months to sew and have lunch while we made 2 bed sized quilts for Lisa'a daughters for Christmas. We used the fabric from a lifetime of homemade flannel nightgowns made for Lisa by her grandmother a.k.a..... Carole's mother! So as you can see this was a family project. I feel grateful to be included! We had quite a bit of fun... I gained a pound or two as well. These ladies can cook! They also were able to help me enjoy the first days of having a puppy in the house... can you say " potty outside?" As you can see Leona was one of the quilt helpers.

Meanwhile....
My daughter Savannah left for Europe for 3 weeks, Montana for 2 weeks, and college for now.

We left her here... a smile on her face... The flowers were blooming ... Summer... August 18... also our wedding anniversary I was experiencing the epitome of mixed feelings! From this day on.. I will think of college drop off when I see sunflowers.

This is where I run out of current pictures.. no worries I am certain my camera is buried somewhere in cloth.

January has me working deep.... in the mines. My friend Gary, a weaver, and I are working on pieces for a combined titled " Threads of Mine" that opens in March 2010. Our inspiration is underground mining. We both come from mining families and wanted to do some focused work on mines. I have read about mines, miners, and mining disasters, looked at pictures of mine shafts and now ... I dream about them.

This is challenging ...my goal is to create 9 new pieces of work for it. I am working with lots of black and very symmetrical work far from my bright , more fluid work, using rusted and discharged fabrics and raw edged applique. Rusting black fabric gave me some beautiful cloth to work with. If I could just find my camera....okay when I find my camera I will post some pictures.

So now back to the mines with me... I leave you with this link to ...

The Great Bell Chant
http://vimeo.com/6518109

Let it buffer completely before viewing.

In the meanwhile...don't forget to dance ... finger tapping, hip shaking, head nodding it all counts.

Remember ...these are the Sweet Years !

2010

Hello it has been a long time since I have posted... so long that it took me a week to track down my login name and password. Note to self keep this information in a file.

So happy new year to all who show up here.

Fiber Art Alliance Announcement

This picture is a detail of my new work Spring Unraveled to see the whole piece visit here...

http://www.fiberartalliance.com/links.html

Each member of the Alliance has committed to creating four pieces of art a year.

The entire collection will be available Spring 2010 to travel for exhibit in galleries until then each group will be shown online as it is completed.

I do hope you'll stop and see our first collection of work we are excited about it.

Be well and remember these are the Sweet Years and don't forget the woman who made that possible.... Mom!

Happy Mother's Day!

Sunrise Beach Love

Beach walk at sunrise...there are not words to describe my love of these mornings.Perhaps these pictures captured my joy...you tell me.

Almost Ready

There is nothing more forlorn than a dye studio with all it's tools gone.

I have never been known for my skills at packing light and this trip is no exception.

I can't seem to leave anything behind.... just in case I need it.

Tonight I will pack up some sewing tools and fabric in case I print a marvelous piece of cloth and have to sew on it right now. That will be another load of stuff I can't leave behind.

Good thing I am driving my van!

I will pick up Rosie in Paducah Friday morning and we will hit the road.

Speaking of Rosie I will leave you some room for your things... I promise.

Most importantly the dance music is ready!

The Sweet Years are Here !

Be well and enjoy today.

Jacque

This Pisces is headed for the open road

It seems fitting that my new art quilt is fish related since it is the season of the Pisces. I am a Pisces as well as my mom, my sister, my son, my father in law , and several of my friends.

It is good to be a fish! So good!

I am busy preparing for my annual trip to the Atlantic Center for the Arts and the a Focus on Fiber Artists retreat where I will spend a week with a group of wonderful textile artists. I plan to screen print, dye fabric, and discharge some tee shirts. I am traveling with my sweet friend Rosemary with the best smile I have seen in a long time and I haven't seen hers for a year. We will drive a van full of goodies for our creative play. Chef Sue will cook our meals and we will play uninterrupted until we stop for yoga and dance each day.

The grounds are absolutely beautiful with dream studios for every kind of artist.

I will lead the dance in the afternoons and I have some raucous new music that will get everybody's hips shaking! I can't wait... Gabrielle Roth has done it again with her new CD's Jhoom, and The Zone Unknown. If I have enough room I will take my new Djembe drum and practice in the music studio. Let me tell you this the rhythm in my hips did not make it to my hands I am a terrible drummer!

I am busy making lists and packing all my favorite tools ...trying to be good and not pack too much.

I am so looking forward to some Florida sunshine, creative play, conversation with other artists, and some group dance. Dancing with my dogs watching is not quite a group.

Be well and know come Friday the 20th I'll be driving down the road Rosie by my side and we will be smiling and maybe even singing if Rosie doesn't mind the worst singer ever heard!

So now you know the truth I can't sing , I can't drum but I love it anyway!

These are the sweet years after all and I don't intend to forget it for a minute.

Jacque

Stormy Weather

Severe Storms in our forecast today. I love stormy weather!

Today we will get to see if our new French drain keeps the water out of the house.

I have been busy dyeing my spring line of scarves and trying out some new tee shirt designs.

My latest art quilt is finished and will soon be delivered to it's new owner.

Spring is around the next corner I feel it!

Enjoy the day and.... if it rains go puddle jumping!

Remember these are the Sweet Years even if you are soaking wet...especially then!

Dance and then dance some more that's what hips are for...hey that rhymed!