Artwork and more during the Pandemic

I had neglected to show the work (except in details)

 previously as these artworks were being saved for the New Image Artists 

exhibit at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

The theme for that show is ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

so I included the game. Using Granddaughter Alexandra's

hands, on the left and Clark's hands, on the right, playing the game.

 For months past I had developed large papier mache rocks 

and other things made with paper.

We are also creating very large scissors to be arranged on a wall.

 This is IMPERFECT INTENTIONS 

also created for the Rock Paper Scissors exhbit.

 Imperfect because the arrangement is scissors, rocks, and paper.

Above, some of the scissors are embroidered, 

all the rocks are embroidered and

 the paper uses pleated foreign money.

 Much of June was taken up embroidering this 

old sewing machine for an article in the 

Local Living section of the Washington Post.

The article's subject was about how so many people are dusting off

 their old machines to make masks during the pandemic.

That is why I added the tiny red fabric mask to that old machine 

before it was finally photographed for the cover.

The decision to show the ragged edges of the white fabric

came about because the embroidery didn't show up as stitched thread.

 It looked like it had been printed.

 I had asked our grandchildren

 (adults now, all living in their own homes) 

since they had to continue their jobs at home, 

if they had created an office or desk space to go to each day.

Caroline sent me this picture, above, of her office at home. 

She has since bought a new chair to be more comfortable.

I enjoy making cards and wanted to do one for her half birthday.

I took her little home office picture and collaged it into a different space.

That gave me ideas for other collaged cards.

 Since I enjoy still-life art I started cutting out pictures

from magazines to make a group of still-life cards.

 Not as easy or fast as I thought it might be,

 but it is fun to do. I actually had to hunt for

and cut much more than I planned.

 I did take time to stitch some tiny embroideries 

to add in some cards. 

Above the bird and a flower in the vase are embroidered.

 And in this one, another embroidered flower or plant and

a bird perched on the arm of that chair.

Below, this last collage I created for the book of memories 

that our daughter, Vicky compiled from friends and relatives

 for Clark's 95th birthday.

Someday our lives may be back to normal, whatever that is, 

but in the meantime, our lives can be so full of

 many virtual things to do and see.

Having exercise classes available and

 to be able to see Hamilton was such a treat 

besides virtual tours of museums, 

National Parks, lectures, and on and on.

I feel lucky and need a 48 hour day to do and see so much.

Summer in to the Fall

Much has happened in the last couple of months,

Here is a brief list.

Two works were selected to go into the Art in Embassies program.

SIX BIRDS, each panel is 8 by 8 inches.

These panels were machine embroidered after a bird watching tour

I took through the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains 

of California and Nevada

The second piece chosen is WING CHAIRS, Nine 8 by 8 inch panels.

These two artworks are now in the Embassy of Montenegro.

The SDA (Surface Design Ass) always has a member's show

during their conventions.  

The requirement this year was a 10 by 10 inch square

Since I am interested in using up rather than tossing away,

I took my embroidered butterfly and added it to a piece I had cut up. 

The result is titled LOST IN A MAZE

Barbara Smith visited in October and wanted to go to the Hirshhorn.

We both wanted to see the huge Mark Bradford art

 that covered the walls of the entire circle on the third floor.

Layers of paper, many inches thick, were cut and torn away

  uncovering colors and more in irregular rows.

Above, two details from  Mark Bradford's PICKETT'S CHARGE

In one small room behind Pickett's Charge

 is a small show titled DIALOGUE of elegant paintings by

Lee Ufan 

During October our New Image Artists had a show at the 

Artists and Makers Gallery in Rockville

Our show was titled FOOTNOTES 2019. 

We each created one or more pieces that were 12 by 12 inches.

We could choose to work in any way we wished.

I cut up a work of large collaged fabric piece that I had never finished,

creating two pieces, I call ORDERLY CHAOS 1 and 2.

This 12 by 12 is LEAVES OF FALL.

Originally I had created only leaves 

 using a different technique for each leaf

For this show, I added the butterfly and bee.

Toward the end of October was Dominie Nash's big birthday.

For her birthday lunch, I decided to make a 

centerpiece showing many of her artworks.

Verena Levin added the branches to her lunch table 

and also made a delicious birthday cake.

During this summer, and the last couple of summers as well, I watched 

almost every baseball game played by our Nationals.

It has been very exciting seeing them do so well and go so far as the World Series.

So I am holding my breath to see .....

the end.

When it freezes what do I do?

When we had the deep freeze followed by more snow 

what did I spend my time INSIDE doing?

 Besides enjoying watching my striped amaryllis bloom 

and bloom again.........

 I should have been spending all my time on creating work for 

upcoming exhibits, but I didn't.

 I thought of upcoming birthdays and started creating note cards....

 That is relaxing, sort of and sometimes.

 Time is spent exploring materials,

   searching for ideas and trying designs and formats .

My thought is that one of these just might be a sample 

for a large wall hanging, someday.

I do find collages and embroidery I have preciously

 created and try incorporating all into something new.

 It always ends up with more stitching necessary and replanning 

and more thought .....

I guess that is where the creativity come in.

I do enjoy the final construction.

More will come.....

Renwick's Blockbuster exhibit, No Spectators: The Art of BURNING MAN

The exhibit begins at six downtown spots where 

there are outdoor sculptures.

 A couple of huge black crows just off Pennsylvania and 18th St. NW

 Maya's Mind (Maya Angelou) on 17th St NW.

More easily seen from across the street.

 Inside the Renwick a huge paper arch in the first room 

begins the tour continuing through two floors of the museum..

 So decorative it takes a while to see all the embellishment.

 The Arch fills the first room.....

 Passing on into the next room we see......

 many costumes....

 No, not that........below

 The centerpiece is an 18 foot steel mesh nude 

sculpture glowing with color....

 in the middle of all the costumes and jewelry.

Costumes used for performance pieces and more.

 Headdresses and jewelry.....

 In the next large room is the Pan Dragon.....

 pedaled at the desert and constructed from cookware.

 More rooms and much more to see on the ground level 

but going up to the Grand Salon.....

 a temple had been constructed filling this whole ballroom

 Too much to see in one visit.....

 An extravagant chandelier...........

and cathedral-like sections on each wall

 In another room upstairs huge origami-like mushrooms 

 that open and close and change color.

Another room full of wonderful cut out sculptures 

that reflect incredible shadows on all the walls .

 

So much more to see.  

We have to thank Nora Atkinson for being able to bring 

this unusual exhibit to the Renwick.

Save time to lay down-on the cushions in a small room 

upstairs so you can watch the lights and colors 

and changing images on the ceiling.

I have just scratched the surface. 

There is also a room dedicated to the history of 

the Burning Man from San Francisco to its desert events.

More after my next visit.....