journey's beginning

I repurposed Solitude temporarily and wanted to share what I did!

Contrast Piece

Passing Lane

Well, better late than....later? Thank goodness we all seem to be similarly overcommitted, and nobody's counting. Good stuff coming from everyone though.
 My contribution to "contrast" references speed. Does it equal freedom? Do those plodding along in the mud resent the high fliers? Or are they more likely to crash and burn? The piece is wholecloth painted, slightly whimsical style in tune with its less than profound statement!  Oh, well. It was fun.
Now for something really escapist...

Contrast

Vivien Zepf

This piece came to mind as our nation's political parties debated how to address America's budget.  We're all part of the same country, but boy, do we all have different and conflicting ideas as to how to solve problems.  It can be wonderful and debilitating all at once.

Though I know the symbolism's not immediately apparent, the background references the fields covering so much of our country.  The hole represents the gap in the budget and the square represents the financial debate -- you know, trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.   Finally, the quilting can be equated to lines of communication that sometimes intersect but lots of times, especially when it comes to a heated topic, can go 'round and 'round in circles, never coming close to meeting.

This is not my most elegant, difficult, or successful piece but I did consider how to abstract my thoughts and feelings into it.  That was something new for me and I'm satisfied with the effort.  Let me also say that working with a hole in the quilt sometimes makes things difficult.  This is called "The Debt Crisis: Trying to Fit a Square Peg into a Round Hole".  

Hi ladies,
I have been busy "escaping" by reading Twelve by Twelve which I have thoroughly enjoyed!

Contrast

I'm glad I'm not the only one crazy for color! this peice is also about the contrast between reality and imagination. I believe that the creative journeys that we all take will save our brains in the end!

Not sure if I said that right, but it's what Im thinking..

Onwards to ESCAPE!

Karen

CONTRAST

Color immediately came to mind...values and complementary combinations. Then straight lines versus curves and busy versus quiet ( quiet being black!)

solitude

So, here is my SOLITUDE peice. I really didnt like the composition so I cut it into a square. I hope that's acceptable. I also mounted it on a frame painted white.
I have related to the mermaid for a long time...I imagine she swims around quite alone most of the time except when she wants to tease some sailorboy.
CONTRAST is on it5s way!
Karen

Solitude at Last

This piece has been sitting around the studio unmounted until yesterday! I worked with the idea of the labyrinth as a place of solitude and the spiraling around of meditation that to me embodies the idea of the pursuit of solitude and peace. It is done with a combination of fabric and aluminum foil and the lining of a Benefil dog food package, a very nice flexible mylar and paper laminate. I made the spiral with a cardboard layered composition and then covered it with the aluminum foil, painted it, them removed the underlying cardboard before stitching it to the fabric pieces.

Escape

Our new challenge word is escape, to be presented in a vertical format.  

For me, escape is a word ripe with meaning.  It can evoke smiles (a beach getaway) or fear (a prison break). It can be the start of something hopeful (leaving a tyrannical state) or something sad (a fate one can't escape).

What will you think of and create to escape?

Mountains High, Valleys Low

This is my response to the word contrast. Can't wait to see more responses.