Monday, April 25, 2011

Fence and Flourish

I finished this large quilt a few weeks ago and I'm thrilled that it was accepted into a special exhibit titled "The Space Between" curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Jenison. It's titled Fence and Flourish. It's 36 x 48 inches (as are all the quilts in the exhibit).


When Leslie and Jamie invited me to submit a quilt for this exhibit and announced the theme, we had just moved into our new home here in Maryland. I had a dream about interpreting the theme as the space between our home and the busy road beyond our back fence. It seemed like such an odd, and yet perfectly appropriate, direction to explore. I kept my creative mind open for a new inspiration, but this idea hung on.

All of the elements in the quilt are references to our yard. Some are specific and obvious, others are just tangentially related -- or related only in my mind.

There are birds and plants. There is a swirly swarm that might represent traffic noise. There are pine trees.The fence in the foreground is very much like our side gate. The fence in the background is a lot like our back fence and the trees beyond it were bare when I was creating the quilt. I love the stark lines of the trunks and branches against the sky.

The window is just a sheer painted stencil. Sometimes I'm looking out. Sometimes I'm looking in.

I really am utterly thrilled to be included in this exhibit. Jamie and Leslie did an exhibit with the same format last year, Beneath the Surface. My quilt Spontaneity and Stability was in that collection also. Making these quilts, being accepted, seeing the exhibit and connecting with other artists has been tremendously gratifying both artistically and personally.

The Space Between will be at the International Quilt Festival in Houston in November and so will I! Yeah! I'm looking forward to it already.

7 comments:

Diane Perin said...

What a gorgeous, gorgeous quilt, Deborah! Congratulations and I am thrilled that I'll get to see this in person in Houston (and, of course, meet you in person finally)!

Jeannie said...

Congratulations Deborah! It is a wonderful piece of artwork.

Amalia Teresa Parra Morusiewicz said...

looks great, so many elements keep my eyes moving seeing new surprises. Is the cardinal a quilted outline or did you thread-sketch before "sandwiching"? OOh, I just realized I might see it in person on Wednesday when you do your trunkshow!!! Any local Marylanders that want to be my guest at my guild this Wednesday night (4/27) to see Deborah in person - let me know
Amy
http://southerncomforters.org/

Joanne S said...

Another thoughtful, heartfelt and evocative interpretation. I look forward to seeing your work because the tiny, elegant changes are so exciting. The flowers, the bird, your cross stitches.

This encourages me to keep working and define my own personal style as you have done over the three years of 12 by 12. Time well spent!!!

Joanne S said...

Another thoughtful, heartfelt and evocative interpretation. I look forward to seeing your work because the tiny, elegant changes are so exciting. The flowers, the bird, your cross stitches.

This encourages me to keep working and define my own personal style as you have done over the three years of 12 by 12. Time well spent!!!

Kristin L said...

Congratulations! What a great pat on teh back for all your hard work and commitment to your art this is. :-) I look forward to seeing you, this piece, AND our 12x12 pieces in Houston (oh and maybe a little Tactile Architecture too?).

Connie Akers said...

Deborah, This is lovely and it is wonderful to see your work continue to flourish.