This week I’ve been doing a LOT of reconnecting with works I’ve created over a period of about twelve years.
I’m putting together the quilts I’ll be exhibiting at the Museum of Art-DeLand starting later in June. Some are new works. Some are works I created a number of years ago.
My reconnection has occurred first in the process of getting quilts down from the shelf (which involves taking down a lot of work that I won’t be exhibiting, just to get at the ones underneath!). Then I am bundling them for delivery. Making a list. Checking it twice.
And, for works that I haven’t looked at in a while, it’s a process of remembering.
What was the experience of making that artwork like?
How have things I’ve thought about in earlier works affected the work I am doing now?
Do I see anything I like that I could develop more? Did I go astray in some way?
This is one of the works I reconnected with this week: So It Will Not Break in Two.
So It Will Not break in Two Art Quilt 33.5”H x 42.5”W
Revisiting earlier ideas — the finished works, or even the sketchbook beginnings, is a good artmaking practice. Periodically I’ll spend an afternoon with a cup of coffee and some of my older sketchbooks.
When you need to know where to go next, or just want to deepen your understanding of what you make, taking time to look back can be a great experience.
. . . . . . .
As I was writing this morning, I encountered a thought that I am just compelled to share.
In my news feed was this description of what Congress’ recent expenditure on Immigration policy actually means. Government appropriations reporting throws around millions and billions sometimes like leaves blowing in the wind. It can be hard to grasp what it means. So, let this sink in:
“Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) notes that the $70 billion in tax money Republicans just gave to ICE and Border Patrol could provide free childcare for 1.3 million children through September 2028, cover the annual cost of groceries for about 10.7 million U.S. households, provide a year of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to 31 million Americans, expand the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for at least a year, cancel about 31.5% of Americans’ medical debt, and end homelessness for about eight years.”
Reported by Heather Cox Richardson, reference: https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/what-70b-could-do-for-the-american-people-instead-of-more-money-for-ice-and-cbp/
My take-aways:
Elections are critical. Paying attention is critical.
And, if the reality of what our current administration is doing with taxpayer money is appalling to you, as it is to me, don’t give up the fight!
. . . . . .
For all of us: focus each day
on the good that needs to be done in the world.
Be part of doing it.
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi