In my earlier post about the New Fibers show, I mentioned an old issue of Surface Design Journal that had inspired me. Back in Milan now, I pulled that Fall 1995 issue off the shelf and reread the article, A Penetrating Eye: John Hawthorne’s Personal Cosmology, by Margo Mensing. I don’t think I’m allowed to post a picture of or from the magazine, so I won’t, but the images of John Hawthorne’s work are extraordinary! If anyone has seen his work published or exhibited in other contexts more recently, I’d love to know about it. The works shown in the article are small “altar-like” creations of tapestry and beads. The images are somehow distorted, blended, or evolved versions of what seem to be traditional religious figures. A mix of Hindu, pre-Columbian, and medieval European imagery combines into a kind of personal cosmology that I find very moving even if I don’t know where it’s pointing. The fact that the workmanship seems impeccable makes these pieces inspire awe and reverence, without reference to any particular tradition. They are truly impressive.
