Sunday, November 4, 2012

Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos


"de Noche de Muertos " (Night of the Dead) 2012

I had a lot of fun a few weeks ago, taking time out
from my painstakingly slow studio work, to make
a few pieces for the latest show at
Gleaner's Inc, 2 Ballarat St, Brunswick.
Another wonderful opportunity to play...
given to us by the lovely and generous Liz Jones

 "Dia de los Meurtos" (Day of the Dead) 2012

Both pieces are constructed from discarded
needlework, pinned to canvas, backed with foam core.
This is a new way of working with the needlework for me,
as I normally pin to tulle.  I like the idea of the handwork of
others, probably all of them now deceased, being used
in a celebration which is designed to remember the dead.
The skulls were 'discovered' within an antique ribbon-lace
bedspread, kindly given me by a visitor to my show
Sanctuary, at Heide Museum of Modern Art. 


The black and red embroidery and lace
work well with the Mexican theme and
I chose to place a bird at the centre
of one eye (just for fun) 


A delicately embroidered Peacock's head
made in India (I hope not by a child) from
the finest of brass threads, with beaded eye,
sits in the centre of this skulls eye.

 

This is Liz's poster for the show, which opens next
Friday night - at 5.30pm (not am), which she's
cleverly created from her wonderful collection -
she's a very dedicated gleaner!


And here are my skulls, beautifully arranged among
other wonderful object 'des artes


Thursday, November 1, 2012

Last Gasp of winter...

This work is now named "Last Gasp - after Maria Sibylla Merian"
and in these last days of Spring, which feel like winter,
here is Day 10. Petal five has been pinned
the tail of a dragonfly appears in the left hand cnr,
but this is for a separate work

 up close and personal with the vital parts

in-situ