Sunday, September 30, 2012

Oceanside Museum of Art


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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.
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 detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 

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 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.
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  detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 
The blue design is made from my stencils (Eucalyptus, Pods and Sweet Gum balls, using acrylic inks.)
untitled
 detail of Transitions by Jane LaFazio 

untitled
 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.

untitled
 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!  

10 comments:

  1. What a cool assignment! Your quilt is gorgeous...I'd love to see it side-by-side with Heather's quilt. Will your quilt be on display until Feb 10, 2013 as well? If so, 'road-trip' to Oceanside is in order! (I posted some title suggestions on FB). Congratulations, Jane!
    ♥ Cathy

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  2. For a name, the minute I looked at the picture, I thought of "Ocean Pull" or "Ocean Pods" or something like that. I definitely saw and felt the ocean. Whatever you name it, it is lovely!

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  3. Love it. My suggestion for a name is Time Tracks or Tracks of Time.

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  4. I thought moonlight and garden. Softness. I have no name, but maybe that will give you ideas that lead to idea that... .

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  5. you love pods...so call it..."I Love Pods"

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  6. I love this assignment! Makes me want to go to my local art museum and "assign" myself. :) Lovely piece you're working on.

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  7. Pods and Pieces.....it's a play on peas in a pod. Your two quilts are like siblings, some things in common, some things unique. Thanks for sharing and engaging!

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  8. I'm sure you'll come up with a great name all by your own self! Your piece is lovely. I hope you'll show us photos of the two quilts together. I love all of the texture in yours.

    xo

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  9. I'm sure you'll come up with a great name all by your own self! Your piece is lovely. I hope you'll show us photos of the two quilts together. I love all of the texture in yours.

    xo

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  10. How about "Serenity"? The flow of calming energy between the blues & the pod shapes is very Zen & Peaceful.

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