We started with a weekend retreat exploring life themes, aspirations, gratitudes, and colors: flow, courage, gratitude, connection, delight, love, presence, openness, trust… narrow places, open spaces, yellow, gold, fish, lotus, water, flow…
Then I got to work, translating these ideas and feelings into form. Confronted along the way by limits in the materials and limits to my own experience, I collaborated with both to create something I hope will bring joy to its patron, my friend.
The pieces changed shape and color along the way, sometimes being unified as one piece, other times and ultimately standing as two separate but harmonious pieces. Hanging on driftwood collected from the beach near my studio, they’ll take this place with them to their new home.
Deborah, the patron and inspiration for this artwork
Deborah and I met for a day-long retreat in my studio, delving into color, letting the textures of the fabric evoke the textures of emotion. The safe space and unstructured nature of the day allowed themes of a unique and beautiful life to emerge.
Sinking into the colors and subtle textures of life.
Emotional and energetic qualities emerged — qualities that were familiar and abundant as well as those wanting to be cultivated, to be invited to take their place in the foreground of life.
The Golden Fish resonated, as did the Lotus in context. Growing in water, swimming in water, navigating narrow places, emerging into open spaces.
On my own, in the months after the retreat, the ideas and energies which emerged there guided my work with form and fabric.
Silk satin from India, cotton quilt fabric from the local shop, horsehair wrapped with silk thread in Tibetan appliqué tradition. All working together with Deborah’s well-being in mind.
I love when the pieces take on a life of their own!
The flowers are so vibrant and alive. I know I made them but they feel as if they’ve grown organically, on their own, fertilized by my fingers and by Deborah’s intention.
Bright lotus blossoms emerge from dark murky waters.
Waters can be wavy.
Clouds fill the sky, obscuring its clarity only temporarily, providing welcome cooling too and beautiful wonder.
Initially, the sky was blue… but the contrasts felt too strong. I wanted a gentler effect.
Rethinking colors…
The fish swam in on their own.
This gentle yellow sky won me over.
Two fish emerged as individuals and came together to play.
At various stages in the process, I envisioned the two panels of this piece hanging separately or being unified as one. At one point, I thought the panels would hang separately from a single rod and that the fish would dangle freely in between. It was fun (and sometimes scary) to let the work emerge as it wanted to. There was often a gap between what I envisioned in my head and what concrete reality was willing to accommodate… especially since I had to call on sewing and engineering skills I haven’t thoroughly honed.
In the end, the two panels hang separately, each on its own piece of driftwood. This piece has a tunnel at the back to hold the rod. The fish swim through narrow places, and below the surface in hidden places, and emerge in the light of open spaces.
This piece hangs from long loops sewn into the upper edge. At the last moment, a single fish found her way under the lily pad, courageously plumbing the depths of experience. This single fish tied the whole piece together for me.
My seal and signature on the back.
With great appreciation to Deborah for allowing me to illustrate and support her life in this way. May these pieces bring you great joy!
