Double Trouble

I have good intentions to blog but I guess you can tell I would rather be making art! Some of you have asked for more details of this new tapestry so I have tried to make this more available to you here.

                                 'Terra: Wheat and Grass'


This is my new diptych, 'Terra: Wheat and Grass.'  They are about 35" (90cm) in height.  I am  intrigued by the eccentric wefts I have been working with and have recently completed a diptych that incorporates large areas where the eccentric weft areas can shift and overlap the adjacent sections.  

                                        'Grass' details

                                        'Wheat' at an angle

Here are some details where you can see the overlaps and gaps. They provide unusual surface interest which is an aspect of tapestry that has not been really exploited as far as the construction goes. To me, tapestry is a construction project. Beyond the 2D imagery of the tapestry, I feel there needs to be an aspect that shows it is not a painting or a photograph. It must be true to its textile roots. With this way of working the viewer can see the process but there is more to it than meets the eye. By letting the surface move, shift, bulge, it begins to behave more like a piece of textile which, in fact, it is.

In this example I weave each tapestry as one integrated unit; there is no sewing or piecing to create this overlap but rather the full effect takes place after it is cut from the loom. Without the tension to pull it straight, it buckles into these wonderful layers.

I have added the top and bottom areas for framing this special effect and for contrast. In addition it anchors the wayward shifting area so it does not lose its context. 

I like the look of these sort of jigsaw pieces which I wove without a cartoon. I knew the colors and the sorts of shapes i wanted to use but it was hard to not fall into a regular patterned design. (The only negative for this slit process is that there are a lot more selvages to manage; the loose ends at the back need to be sewn back in.) Overall, I am very excited about these. There are a lot of directions I can take to explore in this technique.

 I am already thinking about and sketching the next pieces I want to do to further this 'textileness' effect.  Let me know what you think.