Sacred Secrets/Fiberactions Reveal Day

Today is Fiberactions REVEAL DAY for the current challenge:  Neutrals.  Check them out!

Sacred Secrets

Continuing my secrets series, I am using the same format as the last two reveals, seen below.  This time the challenge issued required the use of black, brown, gray and white.  

Using vintage zippers as a metaphor for concealed secrets, my interest here is in the use of secrets in religions.  For example, in some traditional indigenous religions, information is held closely, revealed only to the initiated.  Well, on second thought...it's certainly not exclusive to traditional or to indigenous.  Because of my interest in Aboriginal Art and my supply of fabric designed by Aboriginal artists, it was a natural to explore this branch of religious secrets.

Sacred Secrets detail

 Sacred Secrets, as the previous two, combines machine and hand stitching, zippers (of course) and rick rack (there are those friends of mine who would also say "of course").

Let the Sun Shine In

Pesky Little Secrets

Thread City, (CT) USA

Willimantic's name apparently comes from an Algonquin word for swift running water. That swift running water ran cotton thread mills from the 1800's until 1985 when the American Thread Company picked up and shifted to North Carolina. This frog atop a spool is one of a pair at the entrance of the bridge over the river, greeting visitors to the town.

The town is also home of Eastern CT State University, where Ruth Anne Olson (www.fiberartbyruthanne.blogspot.com) and I went to view the current exhibit at its Akus Gallery, Chahar Ghesmat: Iranian Women Create. It was thought provoking work from four Iranian women curated by Elizabeth Peterson, Director of the gallery.

Whilst on campus Elizabeth recommended we visit the library where a huge weaving of Helena Hernmarck is hanging. "Open Door Open Book" was a public commission installed in 1998 and is, indeed, imposing!

Finding out that in a previous life I had given presentations on Australian Aboriginal Art, Elizabeth suggested we walk over to the Student Center too. There we were surprised to see an enormous contemporary art painting by Salt Water Murris. "Quandamooka Dreaming" is a celebration of life in the Moreton Bay area.

The day was full of unexpected, wonderful art. Serendipity, indeed!

In a couple of hours we will be loading the car for the airport to begin the L-O-N-G journey to Melbourne, Australia...which is why, if you choose to go, you should stay a while. We will be there three weeks, mostly staying with friends along the way.

The detail pictured here is from "Creative Spirit" and is greatly influenced by my interest in, and love of, Australian Aboriginal Art. It was one of my two pieces that was juried into "Up in Stitches" 2008, at the Yeiser Art Center, in Paducah, Kentucky.

Having spent long periods in many, diverse locales, understandably, place plays an extremely important role in my work. It's not difficult to see influences from Australia (or Japan/northern California/New England/Florida)...both the culture of the desert in particular and the flora, fauna...and light...in the colors, themes and viewpoints I choose. Place is such a crucial element for me that I work very diligently at insinuating myself into a new locale. The few places that I have lived, and have not felt "accepted" in some way, have become memories of regret and, therefore not usually represented in my work.

This little (24" square) work was also juried into "Up in Stitches" last year. It's titled "Masako Goes to Africa" and is made exclusively with African fabrics...and made for my sister Masako, who never, it seems, leaves her home in Texas. I've decided to give her a grand world tour. I spoke with her last night, and I think she needs an Australian trip too.

Our first host lives in Lorne along the seacoast of Victoria, west of Port Philip Bay. She doesn't "do" computers, so unless we stumble upon an internet cafe, I will not be posting regularly. But I will be photographing wildly. She lives in the midst of The Otways...a temperate rainforest with amazing ferns, eucalyptus, fauna and BIRDS!!