Viewpoints9 Reveal Challenge 7

Lin Hsin-Chen posed a timely challenge to the group:  Our environment, considering the current climate changes to all of Nature.

The day she posted the Challenge, coincidentally, I happened upon my maternal grandfather's obituary.  He and his four brothers were second generation farmers and ranchers in Sutter County CA, which is part of the Sacramento River Valley.  Later that evening I watched the grim realities of the results of the current long term drought affecting this entire area.

The stamp I carved represents the acres of orchards/vineyards now in peril: Almond, walnut, peach, plums/prunes, kiwifruit, grapes (Thompson Seedless were developed here)

Forecast: Hot and Dry is a lament for the farmers of the Sacramento River Valley and us all.

This piece is made with both commercial and hand-dyed, painted, stamped and inked cottons.  Machine and hand stitched.

Forecast: Hot and Dry

Detail of artist-cut block, printed and stitched

Viewpoints 9 Reveal Day

Today is reveal day for Viewpoints9-2

Weeks ago Australian art quilter Sue Dennis posted this challenge to the other members of Viewpoints9

 The old saying goes 'a stitch in time saves nine'. Is this really true I have wondered through my life? I have diligently mended seams and rips before the damage got worst and repeated the catch phrase to myself often, finding it funny that as I get older, the little homilies repeated by my parents have made their way into my vocabulary and thinking.

I'm also reminded of the seemingly reckless behaviour of my grandchildren and carefully watch out for them, anticipating danger and try to avoid spills and slips and think that this too relates to 'a stitch in time saves nine' in another context.

I invite you to contemplate this folkloric jingle and come up with your interpretation
Reveal begins on August 27.

Click here to Flash on over to their blog to see the always interesting and varied responses the members of Viewpoints9 pose to each other.

My reply to the challenge is 'Cosmos'.  You can read all about it on the Viewpoint9-2 blog.  I hope you like it.

Viewpoints 9-2 Reveal Today!

Another interesting challenge, fifth in the current series, is just being revealed.  This time by Alicia Merritt.  You might recall that every other month a member of the group of 9 poses a challenge and the members' responses to that challenge must be portrayed in a format that is divisible by 9", up to 27" in either height or width.

My submission is "One Small Step into My Universe" pictured here and 18" x 18".  More info about it and the other submissions can be found at Viewpoints 9 blog here. 

I can hardly wait to see what the other members have done!

Viewpoints 9

Today is my day to post about our upcoming online reveal.  Alicia Merritt posted an interesting challenge based on the number nine:  Planets…interpreted.  Universe?  Coincidence?

Whilst wrestling with my response to her challenge I resorted to distracting myself in hopes of an epiphany.  I am the first to admit that I'm not an abstract thinker…

I did think this little piece (21 1/2" square) fit the challenge and it also oiled the gears for a more original reply to be revealed on June 27.   Read more here.

Navigating the Journey

Viewpoints 9-2 Revealed

The challenge posed by Viewpoints 9-2 member Misik Kim was very interesting, indeed.  September.(9th month) Remember that this rotation we are focusing on the number 9.  And, Movies.  Not two things I ordinarily link together.

That was until I gave it some thought.  Actually, lots of thought.  Took ages…then in the middle of the night, literally in a dream I remembered:

I was a teenaged university student.

Yes, it was a l-o-n-g time ago.  How long ago, you wonder?  Well, none of us used an abacus.  However, data entry from all of our studies was input by punch cards.  And, we still used slide rules.  I'm pretty sure that the last time I saw a slide rule was on Antique Roadshow.  But I digress.

My family had just relocated from Itazuke, Japan to Fort Worth, Texas, where I matriculated at the university in September.  It was the early 1960's.  The heat had diminished somewhat…locals said it had 'broken'.  The evenings were beautiful.  Drive-in movies on a Saturday night with my current beau were magical.

1960's Romeos and Juliets

Viewpoints9-2 Reveal Day!

Gosh, I almost forgot to alert readers.  Viewpoints 9 Challenge 3 is being revealed right this moment.  In fact the third one…Kate Themel's was just posted.  Mine is in line.

The challenge was posed by Lisa-Marie: 9=Nein=NO.  (This year all of the challenges are about '9' and Lisa-Marie's was about 'NO.  You might enjoy reading her actual challenge.)

Here is my response.

Perhaps it's the contrarian side of me, but I couldn't help myself.  "NO" just naturally means "YES".

I recall that we were cautioned as teenagers, learning Japanese while living in Japan, that "Iei" (No) was impolite to say in business and formal situations.  I don't think it's as much of a taboo now, except in retail/business exchanges when it is still very impolite, but long ago and in a rural area it was stressed.

That suited me fine!  I tried to co-op the etiquette and extend it to American-English situations as well.

It is very interesting…and sometimes requires adroit mental gymnastics, to communicate 'no' without using the word.  Prime training for diplomacy that was required years later when I became a parent and, later still, during my career as a real estate broker.

Now, older, wiser and much more experienced, I see real value in not saying 'no'.  For instance, I try dyeing, or a new technique, or a new idea without success.  Perfect time for a 'yes!'  That situation simply set up a new dynamic….time to try something different.

I hope to build on negatives with a big, old, hearty, fist-pumping YES.

You really MUST read the other responses!  Besides the art work is GORGEOUS!

It Would Be Impolite to Say No (27"x27")

Viewpoints9-2 Reveals Today

Today is the second reveal of the new iteration for Viewpoints9.  The challenge posed by Kate Themel was to imagine a risk that you would take if there were no complications.  Would you skydive?  Free dive?  Dog-sled to the North Pole?  Caving, anyone?

My risk would be much more mundane.  Check out the Reveal.  Viewpoints 9-2

Mr Socks 9"x18"

Mr. Socks detail

One of his toys

If you want to know more about my worry about this Challenge check out my earlier response.