The sculpture was made while an undergrad at Ohio State University in the 80s. Unfortunately, the top rim of the smaller piece was chipped during a move. The pieces were designed to be placed in different positions while still having a dialogue. They were fired multiple times using lithium and lead glazes.
Naturally Occurring Blue-Green Found on Orange
My choice of glaze surfaces occurred before my interest in mold and lichen growth.
Every time I walked by this piece, I couldn’t remember the name and code used.
I looked through my files and found the piece support materials. The title and code is Pause to Let Your Eyes Adjust.
The Code
The Code in Color (tan yarn is used in place of cream)
Upper Layout
Detail of Broken Triangle Bits of Mirror
Middle Section
Lower Layout
Signature–Perforated Disk
Materials List
Birch branches and twigs–symbol of health, wisdom, safety, public office.
Other materials–1/4″ hardware cloth (45×99 squares), wool yarn, mirror, cotton duck for back. Bargello embroidery patterns.
The Truth piece consists of two pieces that will be mounted on a wood panel and framed.
After looking at the image of the larger piece, I think wrapping all of the exposed hardware cloth with cream yarn is needed. Bumped up the contrast to see the wire more clearly.
Wrapped Hardware Cloth Wire
Center Shapes are Code for the Word Truth
Brown shapes are Dots, Tan shapes are Dashes, Cream shapes are Spacers.
The same colors are used for code throughout the pieces.
The right border of the larger piece has the code–Be Told. It begins with the top right square of the hardware cloth.
The left border of the larger piece has the code–Will Out. It begins with the bottom left square of the hardware cloth.
The center portion of the smaller piece has the code–Half the truth is, with the right border continuing the text–a great lie.
I thought about adding an application of wax, but it changes the fiber a bit too much. Will either add an application of starch or a solution of salt.
The pieces will be attached to a 5″ x 7″ wood panel with tacks. If the tacks don’t work I may use velcro. Then a frame will be added.
Thoughts Blocks with Verticals Completed
After the vertical jute was added, the cream wool on the roofing felt blocks seems a tad too flat. Thickening the pattern on the blocks may be necessary.
Thoughts Block with Cream Wool
Thoughts Block with Jute
Thoughts Block with Tan Wool
Thoughts Block with Hemp
If I decide to add additional fiber to the 330 blocks, it will extend the working time at least an additional week. Pretty sure it will be worth the time.
When I opened my flower press today, I found something interesting…
…the leaves that I gathered from a dying succulent now have plantlets. How cool is that?!
One of the reasons that I am loving succulents is how resilient many are and often how easy it is to make more plants.
The dried leaf colors and textures are gorgeous!
The dried leaf brought to mind my bronze dagger series, Tools for Rent.
I found the bits next to the tissue box in the bathroom.
When I looked up, I realized one of my pieces was damaged.
This was the piece. It is part of my Cleanse Your Palate Series, No Guilt.
The image was taken by Sharon Tetly when the work was on display at Western Nevada College.
The piece has pit-fired components. The bird head is hanging from a strand of pit-fired beads. Of course there is code in how the beads were strung. The beaded piece references chaplets. The idea was to remove the chaplet, hold it, and repeat, “forgive yourself” for whatever perceived wrong.
The piece is hung in the guest bathroom. It actually has been in the same location for several years.
There are a few of the same pit-fired beads in my stash of beads for comparison. Maybe tests.
The pit-fired beads and bird head have all fallen apart.
I removed the chaplet, but haven’t yet warmed to how the piece looks without it.
Why did the beads fall apart? My initial thought…the flaking off of the surface is the result of humidity. Why now? Most likely it was a gradual process until the point that flaking occurred.
Am I upset? No, more curious about how the damage occurred, how to prevent it in the future, and how to make it occur if I want to age a piece.
Maybe I shouldn’t attempt working when I am feeling unwell and functioning without proper sleeping.
The plan was to run a folded piece of jute twine from the bottom of the piece to the top. The excess at top is to become the hanger for the piece.
Today, I was feeling bette, but apparently not good enough. I started work on the right side of the piece. Unfortunately, I wove the jute twine through from top to bottom, leaving excess twine at the bottom.
Tomorrow I will be removing all the columns that I wove incorrectly. The mistake will add at least two hours to my work time.
Horizontals Complete
Thoughts is now bound together. Started adding jute twine for warp.
Also decided to fill the horizontals. Decided to first add horizontals, then they can be locked in with the vertical warp and crosses at the block joints.
Considered using jute-wrapped rope for border.
Decided to use jute rope for two reasons–I like the twist of the rope, and it will be less work and stress on my hand.
When I am working with yarn and twine, I always wrap my hands with waterproof medical tape. The areas that seem to get ripped up and sliced the most are the joints of fingers.
After months of illness, last year I was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. It is important for me to protect my lungs from further damage. I tried using a medical mask, but it didn’t fit properly. It kept poking me in the eye. I taped the corners to prevent poking, but the mask was still uncomfortable.
Then used an inexpensive dust mask for most of my working session. It was okay, but still did not fit quite right.
It is better to use a mask that has two elastic bands or a respirator. I have a great two cartridge respirator that fits well, but is heavy and bulky while looking down for my stitchwork.
I stopped by Harbour Freight to pick up a better dust mask. They were sold out because of the Coronavirus scare. Then stopped by Home Depot. First looked in the building section, the area with concrete. Found a package of masks. They weren’t what I really wanted, but better than the other two I used yesterday. I found empty shelves in the paint section where masks should have been. There was a sign that stated there was a limit 10 per customer.
Are people being over cautious purchasing mask to possibly protect them from a virus in China?
There have been seven confirmed cases in California.
The best place to acquire correct information is the CDC website.
From the CDC site–
2019-nCoV is a betacoronavirus, like MERS and SARs, all of which have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.
Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by 2019-nCov in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread.
2020 Goal
Complete all work in progress.
Completed stitching together Thoughts piece. Today I will be adding cream wool stitching around entire piece.
Read a couple of weaving books over the holidays and liked the idea of warp threads used to hang woven pieces.
Planning to twine jute twine vertically through the hardware cloth. Yes, I meant to use the word twine twice. Currently thinking attaching the jute warp threads to a thin metal rod. I like the visual of a couple of nail heads holding the lot on the wall.
Also will add a piece of jute-wrapped rope for the border. Should help to integrate the materials and nicely finish the piece.
This is the border on See a Penny.
Previous Posts on Thoughts Piece
Thoughts in Progress, Tuesday, May 14th, 2019
Thoughts in Progress, Thursday, May 16th, 2019
More wallpieces to complete.
Also have a stash of small 3-D work in progress that needs to be realized.
Weaving on a Little Loom by Fiona Daly
Weaving Within Reach by Anne Weil
In the post I use the words twine and twice. The words look similar. Not just because they start and finish with the same letters, but because the figure-ground is nearly identical. I authored a CD, Appearances can be Deceiving that focuses on figure-ground relationships in a variety of customizable settings.
The CD is available for purchase through Learning Fundamentals.