Virginia A. Spiegel

Boundary Waters 44

This is the third of three related Boundary Waters pieces. It features one of my all-time favorite photos of me in the Boundary Waters taken by my sister, Nancy.  I know that I have some coffee in my red mug, I have on my lucky blue bandana, and I’m just sitting there with a blank mind seeing what there is to see. If I’m wound up about something in life, I take out that photo and try to be there again in that calm and silent spot.

Boundary Waters 44 is a 13×12.25″ art quilt mounted to a custom-made 16×16″ stretched canvas.  Materials include white cotton fabric, acrylic paint, artist’s photos inkjet printed on silk organa, ink, colored pencil, graphite, and rayon thread.  It is collaged, colored, lettered and stitched.

Boundary Waters 44 – Detail

Boundary Waters 43

The eagle is, of course, a powerful totem.  But it holds additional meaning for me as it has more than once appeared at a special moment in a Boundary Waters trip and seemed to add a type of blessing to our voyage.  Boundary Waters 43 is also available; see my website for details.

Boundary Waters 42 – Collection of Mary Wise

These three artworks contain some of my favorite images from the Boundary Waters.  You can see some of their other incarnations here.

Boundary Waters 31 (North)

It’s not often you are able to go to one museum and see three fiber art exhibits.

The New Focus art quilt exhibit, including my artwork above, opens tomorrow, December 12, at the Coos Bay Art Museum in Coos Bay, Oregon.  

There will be an artists’ reception from 5-7 p.m. for a total of three exhibits focusing on fiber art: 

Boundary Waters 29 (North) is an interpretation of the moss layered on the north side of trees in the Boundary Waters. Materials include upholstery fabric, white cotton cloth, acrylic textile paint, felt, organza, and copper wire mesh.

All artwork for this exhibit was mounted to 16×16″ stretched canvas per the request of curators Judy B. Dales and Kim Ritter.  I really like the look and bought three additional canvases for future work.  It’s quite easy to mount the artwork to the canvas using embroidery floss.  

Here is what the back looks like with the stitching almost done:

Boundary Waters 31 (North) Mounted on stretched canvas.

This photo inspired two new artworks, posted to my website today. They are #40 and #41 in the Boundary Waters series and both are Double Moons.

It’s moments like these in the Boundary Waters that you don’t know if you should even take a photo or just be in the moment.  We had been out on the lake exploring and suddenly two big missiles were headed toward our boat. What in the world?  Of course, it was two beavers. They didn’t see us until the last minute and then Ka-Boom went a tail slap and they disappeared.  We realized how quickly it was becoming dark and headed for camp. A loon appeared, no more than two feet from the boat, and escorted us to shore.  Suddenly in the dark, a light started shining.  It was this glorious full moon rising and soon it was light again.

Boundary Waters 39 (Blue Water)

This artwork captures perfectly the dual nature of the water in the Boundary Waters. On one hand, the water is often crystal-clear blue and calm and, on the other hand, heart-stopping waves and surf are always lurking, waiting to catch a paddler unprepared. This is an artwork that can be seen in a glance, but can be studied indefinitely.

More information about this artwork is on the Boundary Waters series page on my website.

Boundary Waters 39 (Blue Waters) – Detail

Boundary Waters 33 (Becoming One – Water) 
8×10″ (Designed to fit opening of 11×14″ mat)
White cotton fabric, acrylic paint, graphite, colored pencil,
inkjet print of manipulated photo on silk organza, thread.

Remember way back in July I came back from Alaska and said I had Boundary Waters’ fever and had to start some new small pieces?  The six artworks are done, at last, and posted here.

These are my favorite pieces of the moment because, although they lean to the surreal side of things, they are so personal.  There is my sister with her crazy hat, my beloved miniature coffee press and lucky blue bandana, the loon and the eagle, our lovely Kevlar canoe and all the things we cherish about our wilderness canoe trips.

Boundary Waters 36 (Java)
8×10″ (Designed to fit opening of 11×14″ mat)
White cotton fabric, acrylic paint, graphite, colored pencil,
inkjet prints of manipulated photos on silk organza, thread.

I now accept PayPal and credit cards through PayPal.  Shipping and handling for current patrons is free and $3 otherwise. This does include my special packaging.