Sharing the “how” and “why” of an artwork
Thursday, August 23rd, 2007
Boundary Waters 14
This artwork arrived safely at Peggy Schroder’s home and she sent me this note:
You did mention what materials you used to create it, but I would especially enjoy hearing “how” and “why” you made it, if you would be willing to share that information. I love stories behind the quilts!
She has given me permission to quote my reply here. I wrote it quite spontaneously, but I feel it captures “the story behind the story” better than the necessarily brief artist statement I wrote for the Boundary Waters series:
As you know, your artwork is part of the Boundary Water series and I painted all the fabric (100 yards of 60″ wide cotton) in less than two weeks while in Texas on my residency. The palette was brown, blue, yellow/gold and peach.
I had a huge notebook full of photos, drawings, and writings about the Boundary Waters with me, but when I started this piece I was thinking of two things: Bark and roots. I don’t know if you remember, but in one of my e-newsletters I talked about the cedar trees in the Boundary Waters.
They are very twisted and fissured. So the left side of the piece is trees and bark, but, of course, very abstract.
Also because most of the Boundary Waters is granite, tree roots tend to be very visible. It is as though you can see their lifelines hanging on to the rocks. I always feel the power of trees while I am in the Boundary Waters and I wanted to give that feeling also.
That is a little bit about your piece. I would have to say that when I am working, I am going for more of a feeling or a gestalt than anything specific. Your piece makes me think of power, of layers, of the age-old strength and wisdom of trees.
Boundary Waters 14 - Detail
