40″x30″x1″ Handsewn Silk on linen, cotton and metallic thread and floss
Birds in a Box: The Hunger Brides of Afghanistan
Category Archives: Patterns
“Big, Loud, Crazy and Colorful – Circus Day at My House”
Archival print 8.5″x11″ Canson Museum Rag
Upon reflection of the general Circus-like experience of house renovation. Full of surprises, a little chaotic, rather loud, always interesting, and it took longer than I thought it should.
“Restored to Center from Struggle toward Triumph- In C by Terry Riley”
This morning because I felt the need to be restored to center, I found myself listening to Terry Riley’s “IN C”, and re reading from “Susan McClary “Rap, Minimalism and Structures of Time in Late Twentieth-Century Culture.” in Audio Culture, Daniel Warner, ed, Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004, pp 289 – 298.” (Yes, I guess I am a little geeky when it comes to my reading habits). What struck me, although I am using it out of context, is her phrase “subjective struggle toward triumph”.
Repetition and geometry have helped me “center” (thus avoiding struggle) over my whole lifetime: saying the Rosary, looking carefully at the elegant design of flowers, dancing, taking joy in understanding equations, and being attentive to the comfort I find in the structure of Minimalistic music. The exhaustion from my strong emotional response to the pain and brokenness in society as the sides “struggle toward triumph”, has directed me back to the nurture I find in the cyclic repetition and geometry of the music of Terry Riley.
8.5″x11″ Canson Museum Rag, archival inks
“Sometimes I just Feel So Sad and Tired”
8.5″ x 11″ archival inks on Canon Matt Photo Paper
Sometimes I just can’t take any more “News” This is my painfilled emotional response to the Rayshard Brooks killing.
“We Stick Together Like Glue”
This represents my wonder- filled- 40- plus- years with my beloved Mark,. If I have to be at home with almost no social interaction for months , I am blessed to be living with my very best friend, companion and lover. We have been most happily at home together on our second honeymoon. And we do stick together like glue.
“Alum and Then Some”
“Trinity”
30″x30″ Silk over linen hemp twine and metallic floss, cotton and metallic thread
Although this was created after an afternoon of listening to jazz, ambient and big orchestra classical music, this could be a “Trinity” of whatever you wish.
“The Colors of a 12 String Guitar”
34″x 48″
Silk and cotton on linen with hemp, cotton and metallic thread and floss
This was created after a marathon listen to some of my favorite 12 string guitar players, particularly Leo Kottke. I hope this image conveys the richly layered twangy/tingly funky sound colors I see/hear as a synesthete when I listen to a 12 String.
“The Mind of a 12 String Guitarist”
8 ½”x 11”
Silk and linen on silk with cotton and metallic thread and floss
After finishing the 12 string Guitar sewy, I knew I needed this as part of the presentation- kind of a modern Diptych.
“White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes
14″x18
Silk on linen with hemp and cotton thread and floss
The melody moves back and forth. Read left to right following the round-like repetition of the thin strings that zig-zag between black standards to “follow the path”.
Correlative Conjunctions “And, But & Not”
“AND”
“BUT”
“NOT”
Each of the three is 30×30”
Silk, cotton, poly ribbon, metallic and cotton thread and floss
As a synesthete, I recognize deep patterns in the spoken language. And, But and Not are conjunctions that join two or more thoughts. Each of these images has a vertical axis that divides the energy, the motion, and the action that I perceive in each of these three ordinary words used throughout our normal daily lives.
And
The two thoughts on either side of this word are often very much alike and connected. Girls AND boys. Cars AND trucks.
But
The thoughts connected by this word are often opposed or dissimilar. This piece uses two very different directions, energies and colors on each side of the axis. I love cold weather BUT want to go to the Caribbean .
Not
The left side is softly rounded while the right side is rectilinear. Round is not square. Elephants are NOT Donkeys.
Living Out Loud: The Art of Geri Hahn 