I’m not even going to go into why I haven’t posted since what, early 2019? If you live in the USA you probably know it has been shall-we-say “weird” for a few years.
So I’m just gonna jump back in and pick up here instead of where I apparently left off… I wouldn’t even know how to recap that anyway. Here’s where I am now:
As always, Viewpoints 9 has been a source of friendship and creative inspiration. The fact that there is always a challenge going on has pushed me to complete projects. Some months, those pieces were literally the only things I got done, creatively. The latest challenge: Instead of 9 installments of 8-week challenges, we are to create 3 completed “works” within 18 months. The size requirements are: 30 x 30in, 30 x 60in and 48 x 60in. Notice the 3 works do not need to be 3 quilts. We can make multiple pieces but they have to fill those dimensions. Each of the 9 artists in our group has chosen and committed to a personal theme. Our 3 works must fit into our personal theme, and should be created to hang together as a group.
What’s my theme? MACHINES
One reason I’ve chosen machines is that I love shiny objects, gears, and interesting tools. So I feel like this topic will keep me engaged with multiple pieces over 18 months. Another reason for the machinery theme is that maybe I’m looking for order and functionality in a dysfunctional world. Ingenious inventions. Systems that work. I feel overwhelmed by what I see happening in the USA. The stupid, spiteful, self-inflicted injuries. The corruption and disfunction of national institutions and elected officials. People acting out of fear and absolute ignorance. Rejection of science and reason. It’s hard to remember a time when our country pulled together to get a team of astronauts safely to the moon and back. It’s depressing and threatens to take me down into a spiral of depression and inaction.
So I need to consciously look for the antidote. Wherever I can find a little glimpse of genius. It gives me hope and reminds me that people are capable of building something useful. Maybe it’s too much to hope for my fellow Americans to band together in a common purpose. So for now, I will focus on examples of individual, tangible imagination. My favorites are the inventions that stand the test of time because they solve a problem or fill a need that is universal, not a passing trend. It’s the same fascination that led me to the mariner’s sextant. The design hasn’t changed in hundreds of years, because it is perfect in functionality and efficiency.
As it happens, that challenge began 14 months ago. So I already completed 2 of the 3 required works. Did you think I would make you read this longwinded post without so much as a colorful photo? I wouldn’t do that to you!
First installment: POCKET WATCH 30 x 30in
If you’d like to read about the other artists’ chosen themes and see galleries of our work, visit Viewpoints9 here: https://www.viewpoints9.com/single-post/2019/09/01/v9-6-our-personal-viewpoints
WOW I have spent a peaceful hour looking at your creations. Every stitch is simply beautiful. You have a gift!
Kate, I’m glad to see you back blogging again. I couldn’t agree more about how disastrous the past four years have been and look forward to seeing a grown up in the White House. Your pocket watch is terrific. You’ve always made great pieces inspired by machines.