What I’m Working On – Part 2
Joe Working (In An Election Year)
Talk about following the muse. One morning my husband reluctantly donated three shirts to the “rag bag” as they had all developed holes in exactly the same spot on the right-hand sleeve. We were really puzzled until we realized that it was the spot where he rested his arm on his desk to move his computer mouse.
The minute I touched the shirts and we realized how he wore out his “work” shirts, I knew I had to do a piece (or actually three) using the shirts.
First there is the irony that this is the “heavy lifting” that an engineer must do. The blue shirts echo the blue collar work his Dad did in a factory. And isn’t it ironic that I had to look up in my encyclopedia of needlework how to do mending when I grew up in a family where mending socks was still done.
Also notice the red, white, and blue theme for this election year. I’m also making a statement through the “mending” of the holes of the delicate peace maintained with great love and care in our household of two individuals with very different political views.
I’m continually amazed by the power of fabric and stitch to “talk” about important (and personal) issues and how seemingly random events can lead me to inspiration and action.
Joe Working (In An Election Year) – Detail
Kathy – Thank you! Both of my sewing machines are in the shop (what are the chances of THAT?), so I am currently in love with hand work. One of those cyclical things in my artwork. V.
Ah yes…mending. That’s what we did when I growing up…everything was used and reused. We may be living in a time where we will need to do that again. Good job!