week 11 conclusion

This week our section visited the Fine Arts Library in Tappan Hall, one of my favorite spots on campus. In searching for some books on textile art I came across the work and collection of Jack Lenore Larson. He created textiles but was also a collector of many types of art. Larson was a close friend and mentor to the great glass artist Dale Chihuly, and many of Chihuly's works were in Larson's collection. One work in particular struck me - Chihuly's "Tabak Basket Set with Black Lip Wraps" (seen above). It was place on the same page as many soft, fabric sculptures and I was mesmerized at how similar the glass behaved to the flowing fabric. This gave me the idea to begin sewing wire into the edges of my textile forms, in order to create further extensions into 3D space.

Adrianne Finelli, the fantastic instructor of my "Home" course last semester, paid our section a visit this week as well. We held a small critique and I got some great feedback as well as encouragement. My biggest question for Adrianne and the class was whether I should stick with the handkerchiefs (and therefore changing patterns of the squares) or if I should shift and use just one pattern in order to let the form shine though. In the end we sort of came to a compromise - I would continue to use the handkerchiefs (because they are important to my concept) but I will group the patterns and colors together so that they flow and are not sort of splotches of color here and there.

What's next:

I will need to gather all the handkerchiefs from my home over Thanksgiving, then begin putting them together into true-to-scale works. I think my mock forms have served me well but it will be time to move on to the real thing after Thanksgiving! (The use of wire is still up in the air, I think if I choose to add wire that will happen next semester when I am exploring installation of the work).