After our discussion the other day, it seems that at least some of you would like to know more about what happens behind the green curtain - and want to know about the spark (or fire!) that gets me started.
Although one person said that they'd prefer it if that explication were a "few short sentences", that's not how I roll. These entries will be word-heavy*, so get yourself a cup of coffee and settle in, or move along! ;)
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As I may have mentioned here before (and if not here it is) - generally, I work concurrently on two, sometimes three pieces.
I've found this method works well for me because I almost always have two or three pieces sitting here (points to a spot between my eyebrows), and quite heavily too! Often, it's very hard to think about anything else and I get quite cranky if they sit there for a long time without being made. (Yet another way in which BSP et all suffer!)
I've found this method works well for me because I almost always have two or three pieces sitting here (points to a spot between my eyebrows), and quite heavily too! Often, it's very hard to think about anything else and I get quite cranky if they sit there for a long time without being made. (Yet another way in which BSP et all suffer!)
Of the things that hunch on my forehead, one is the piece I'm working on, and the other one or two are the ones that are clamouring to GET OUT. (Read that in an Amityville Horror voice.)
That doesn't mean that I only have two or three ideas at a time, on the contrary, I have hundreds of potential pieces in notes and sketches (almost all of which will never be made); but it does mean that they're the loudest at that particular time.
So while one is curing or drying, I work on the other, and vice versa. Usually I can only do two in this way, otherwise I lose focus, but I have, on occasion, done three. (The third has always been an abstract when that happens though.)
Side note: when I was working on the mermaid for the City Waterfront Gallery in Charleston, one that's currently clamouring was in fact, yelling at me REALLY LOUDLY and I think that's why it was so hard for me to work on the mermaid, and why it turned out so bland-o-rama.
So that was a really good lesson learned for me. Although it was immensely flattering to be asked by the curator to create a piece for the show, and I jumped at the chance to be in a gallery - if it's not something that I can get behind - I need to say:
Because I hate, (HATE!!!!!!!!) that that mermaid is out there, hanging in a gallery (!!!!!) as a representation of my work.
(As for the piece that was clamouring - I'm currently waiting to hear from the family about whether it's okay for me to use her as a subject, so though it still wants to get out, it has to be patient.)
NOW TO THE POINT OF THIS POST (lol)
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Thirty-five years ago, as a teenager, I wrote a play called
The Chair By The Window; the titular chair in the title a metaphor for the complex
mix of love, loss, and betrayal that comprised my relationship with my mother.
The play won an award, and was mounted by The Sears Festival, (does The Sears
Festival even exist any more or was it a local thing? ETA: It was and it does!)
Then, twenty years ago, as young mother, I found myself writing
the piece again in the form of an unpublished novel (oddly, and against my will, it was from my mother's perspective) and that too, was called The Chair By The Window.
In March, after the intial weeks of shock and
numbness wore off after my mother's passing, I felt a strong need to talk about our
relationship again, but this time through cloth.
And of course, it was that damn chair again! I had intended to make a physical
representation of it (I can absolutely see it whole on the design wall in my head); and I've made
sketches, written notes, gathered inspirational images and created it in my mind
again and again.
That piece was what I had intended to work on concurrently with the one I've been talking about these last couple of weeks, but every time I tried to do more than what I have already done, even if it was just gathering fabric to audition, I'd end up turning off the light and leaving the studio.
It seems I don't yet have the
emotional distance from her death that I need to bring it to life at the
moment, so the one I'm currently working on has been solo work.
But, I've had another one in mind that has been percolating for at least a year, about an aspect of my (equally complex) relationship
with my father.
It involves a man's dress shirt - and
really - that's the whole of it - the image I've been carrying in my head for this last year or
so - a man's dress shirt, worn, slightly rumpled - the kind your kindergarten
teacher asks your mother for, so that you can wear it in art class to protect
you your clothes. But I haven't known what to do with that shirt.
The other night, I woke from a dream about another piece (that's now yelling at me), so I clicked on my night light and scribbled it down in the notebook I keep on my bedside table.
But when I was done that, I started writing about "the shirt" - and suddenly, there it was - whole, in my head.
I'll be starting construction this weekend I think, so next week I'll continue to show you progress on the one we've been talking about these last two weeks and I'll also talk about the shirt piece.
Okay? Okay.**
See you tomorrow with some buildings!
* I'll label these word heavy posts "behind the green curtain" so if it's not your thing, if you see that label, you can just scroll on by. :)
** And if you find it confusing or annoying to have me talk about one thing and illustrate another, feel free to let me know, and I'll change how I go about sharing that process - like maybe do a start to finish on one piece, regardless of the fact that two are on the go, or do a week of one, then a week of the other.
Something like that, it's all fluid right now, so whatevs.
On diamo!
On diamo!
Posts
Okay! Love the dress shirt idea! Lost my dad a few years ago (((hugs))).
ReplyDeleteI hear you about putting stuff out there that represents you but isn't the best of you. My dilemma for sure!
ReplyDeleteGreat you hear you (process???). I love passion of any kind. I am SO looking forward to seeing what you are going to do and WHY. I think you put more of yourself (feelings, passion, convictions), into what you do anyone else I know. I am also really looking forward to your mother piece. It may be helpful to me.
ReplyDeleteOH I am so similar Kit, a thousand fluttering thoughts and those that just scream to get OUT, no matter what other thing I am working on. I know it is just toys but it is really similar, and yes that obsessive thinking and the crankiness is all here as well.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to every peek behind the green curtain.
HA!!! Kit's gettin' jiggy with ideas behind the green curtain :)Love it. Really like hearing about others (thought) processes too--similar to mine!
ReplyDeleteGirl - you gotta link this word heavy post up this week - its great!! It makes me feel so much better about my own process!
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteNot sure how this works I am so new to this blog thing.
Kit love your work, thanks for sharing details, I get ideas and never know how to put things together.
Hi Deb, welcome to blog land!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome - so glad you found me! :)
Kit, I feel like I also have a trouble with procrastination. When my mother was unable to use her hands anymore (ALS) we cleaned out her trunk of sewing/knitting/crafting supplies and I took a lot of them home with me. In that pile was her wedding veil(attached to a headband) and my Dad's bowtie from their wedding. I had a vision of a quilt using these two items. It still isn't started. Meanwhile both of my daughters used the headband for their wedding veils. It was a way for their grandmother to be there in spirit at their weddings, she had died 6 weeks before the first one got married. It has been over 7 years since I took home those supplies and earlier this year I took a TAP class and finally have the wedding photos transfered to fabric. I have a few other things to finish up first, but I am inspired by your story and the wedding quilt has come back to the forfront of my mind. I am looking forward to seeing what you do with the dress shirt!
ReplyDeleteSo very glad to read process pieces.... knowing how everyone thinks, and processes, and struggles, and just keeps going is very, very helpful. Keep on doing whatever it is behind the green curtain!
ReplyDeleteHey Kit,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for talking about the way your (my) head gets so full of things you have to get some of them out so you can think sensibly (or as sensibly as we are capable of!).
My brother died tragically in 1998. I had an idea for a quilt. but by the time I started feeling like I could do something about it, my sister's husband left her and then married my brother's widow. #~{ So, I still haven't got past that one. Eventually, about this time I am coming to grips with the idea that the quilt about my brother will probably never happen. Or maybe in a different format if I am ever able to develop a relationship with my niece when she gets older.
OKay, TMI from a complete stranger, I guess! But maybe just to help you know other people struggle with getting family out of their heads too! LOL
Sandy in the UK
As much as I tried to keep it together, I fell apart when my Mom died unexpectedly at age 59. It has taken me 10 years to work through my "issues" and I don't know that I have really worked through them all. I feel that my Mom and I had a good relationship but there is so much loss when you loose a parent. It's a tough time. The chair quilt will come when the processing works it's way through. It's wonderful that you are able to move on and keep creating. Best Wishes!
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