Oceanside Museum of Art

Transitions by Jane LaFazio by Jane LaFazio (measures 19 x 48 inches)

I got a very interesting assignment from the Oceanside Museum of Art. To coincide with their Quilt National Exhibition October 14, 2012 - February 10, 2013, I was invited to select one of the quilts that would be on display, and make a new, original quilt inspired by it.

 detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 

 detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 

I blogged about this quilt when I started it, here. I used my Babylock Sashiko machine for the majority of the stitching. There's a little hand stitching and a tiny bit of free motion.

  detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 

The blue design is made from my stencils (Eucalyptus, Pods and Sweet Gum balls, using acrylic inks.)

 detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 

 detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 

Artist Statement

I began this piece with inspiration from by a photo of Heather Allen-Swarttouw’s Lunar Transition II, with its appeal of calming monochromatic tones and minimalist imagery. I thought of Sashiko the Japanese custom of mending (dating back to the 1600s) of a style of decorative reinforcing of work clothes. They used white cotton thread on indigo blue cloth and as I stitched on my old well-worn jeans, I used both white cotton thread and a variegated colorful thread adding a subtle contemporary spin. As I worked I also thought of the powerful Gees Bend quilts (from Alabama) made from old chambray work shirts, mattress covers, and leftover corduroy. The surface design imagery, on my quilt, is a leaf or pod, filled with my own botanical inspired patterns is a gentle homage to Heather’s boat/pod shapes. 

Transitions. From blue jeans to art. From middle age to old age. From seeds to trees to pods to seeds to trees.

 detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 

Lunar Transition by Heather Allen-Swarttouw, Asheville NC

Above is the quilt I was inspired by. Lunar Transition by Heather Allen-Swarttouw. I was surprised and pleased to read her artist statement that she refers to the shapes as boat pod shapes. You know I love pods. I've not seen this quilt in person yet. In the making of my quilt, I created it the same size as her original quilt. I'm a little nervous to see them together, but I'm really looking forward to seeing hers up close! It looks denim in the photo, but is it?

here's the invitation for the OMA exhibition and you're invited!

And there will be a display of prayer flags, from all over the world, made by my friends from the prayer flag project.

Prayer flags ready to hang at Oceanside Museum of Art

I visited the museum yesterday, and saw the flags. They'll be hung in the museum lobby.  Here is the call to artists. There's still time if you want to send some flags in!