There really is nothing quite the same as encountering artwork face to face. Close-up and personal.

I enjoyed watching people at Lemoyne Arts in Tallahassee last night encountering textile artwork in the show sponsored by SAQA Florida Region: “Perspectives.” Textile artwork really invites close-up looks. People want to get right next to the work to see the stitching, the applique details, and the character of the fabrics.

It’s an added dimension to the experience when the exhibit has a theme. In “Perspectives,” artists were challenged to think about visual perspectives, points of view, changing perceptions over time, or seeing the world through a different set of eyes.

My work in the exhibit is “Overgrown Conversation.” Inspired by the photos of discarded windows, I was interested initially in the actual perspective – the angles of the windows and the distances created when one is stacked in front of another.

Then I began to consider the concept of conversations in a garden, and the way they might reflect different points of view. This led to the images of the two chairs, facing different directions. The inclusion of the birds was another way to give voice to the idea of conversation, or messengers.

The overgrown vines on the original windows suggest the passage of time, and I wondered if the conversations in the garden had likewise been overgrown and discarded.

If you would like to see more of this exhibit, the catalog is available for order through Amazon for $15.00. Purchases help to provide funds for the Florida Region of SAQA. (SAQA is Studio Art Quilt Associates, the international organization dedicated to promotion of the art quilt. Great organization! Learn more at SAQA.com) The exhibit catalog includes images and artist statements for the 38 works in the show, all created by SAQA members in Florida. I was proud to be the designer of this book. To find it on Amazon click HERE.

Today was the day to drive back to DeLand from Tallahassee. We drove down US 27 to avoid the mind-numbing frustration of Interstate traffic. There is so much beautiful and interesting life to see on less-traveled back roads. A new perspective!

It’s good to be home. Back to the studio tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi

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