December 2014
By 2000 I had been quilting for 15 years and
had had a wonderful time learning all sorts of techniques, improving my
technical skills and trying to add my own twist to things eg unusual colour
choices, pieced backings. Was I
bored? Well, I don’t think so, but what
I did need was something to get the blood pumping again.
Before I delve into the great wonder that is
India, I’d like to take a step back and perhaps explain a little of where my
head was taking me at the time. Up
front, I consider myself to be a quiltmaker; pure & simple with no fancy
aspirations. I love what I do and like
to explore opportunities, especially learning to help myself to “do this thing” better. I’m a great exponent of lifelong learning.
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| Patched Japanese Jacket. Wendy Lugg Exhibition, 2000 |
The 1998 Rapt in Colour exhibition of Choson Dynasty Textiles (Korean Wrapping Cloths) at the Powerhouse Museum was part of my reconditioning experience. It came like a bolt of lightning! Quilts CAN have depth, a personality and convey messages. Similarly, the various exhibitions we attended before going to Japan (2000) had me off and running. My first “textile” travel experience was thereafter destined to become a quest of discovery. In other words, a real foraging!
I had also by happenstance, come across an interview with Linda McCartney (I think the ABC, played in 2000) about her photography. I found it incredibly interesting and inspiring. The gist, in my own words, was that your “medium” is simply an expression of your reaction to things around you. LMcC believed in modest materials and a minimalist approach eg one lens and black & white prints. This allowed her to focus on her chosen subject and add a touch of surrealism. She believed that we need to understand the history of our “medium” and how that influences our own style or way of seeing. We need to grasp how old masters have used the elements and apply that learning to our own work too. Copying is certainly out of the question, unless it is traditionally or culturally acceptable. Finally, LMcC advised how important it was to add something of yourself (capturing your own style) and to just seize the moment.
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| Rapt in Colour, Powerhouse, 1998 |
With these experiences in mind, I had a plan:
1. Take a sketch diary with me to Japan (Well, I did but used my camera instead. Time to languish was not on our side!)
2. Think about a theme eg blue & white, manhole covers, flowers, seasons etc. Try a fresh approach if it's been done before. (It was so hard to focus in Kyoto...land of the unbelievably beautiful.)
3. Review my current works and make a note of what I’ve learned from that exploration. (Had I sewn myself into a corner? Where (or what or even who) was my superhero to help me on my way?)
4. Join a group of like-minded individuals to discuss work. Learn from others. (This is why I love attending classes. Teachers can offer fair criticism. My friends offer other constructive options to consider. Fantastic – only a few blocks to unpick!)
5. Travel and be inspired…could I record the experience? (I am continually inspired, my photograph collection is approaching digital mega-tons and my mind is spinning with ideas. From all this though, my love for blogging has bloomed.)
6. Now of course, all there is to do is focus and get on with it.
Oh, sure….
