Grid Series
For me there is an absolute satisfaction in order. Most people respond positively to a set of repeated shapes. In this Grid Series I broke the fields into squares and then played with the graphic elements within each square. China, Egypt, Mars; each one relates to a “place.” I expect to continue this series indefinitely.
Chinese Coin
24″W x 56″H
The strong colors in these hand-dyed fabrics assume a calm and soothing character in this very graphic composition. All hand-dyed cottons, pieced, fused and surface textured with stitching. An original design.
Chinese Coin – Detail
Nile Moon
27″W x 47″H
The rather unusual use of colors in this piece fascinates me. I’ve captured a certain calm, mysterious feeling I associate with Egypt and the pyramids. All hand-dyed cottons, variegated rayon thread, pieced, fused, appliqued and surface textured with stitching. An original design.
Mars Multiples
30″W x 51″H
I enjoy using simple shapes and exciting colors. While working on this piece, I felt a child-like exuberance and happiness, and think this feeling really shines through to the viewer. Hand-dyed cottons, pieced, fused, appliqued and surface textured with stitching. An original design.
Keeping the Stories Alive
60″Wx 48″H
African-influenced, this quilt is a series of pictographs suggesting various elements in the history of a clan. The viewer is encouraged to come up with their own interpretations. The individual blocks are deliberately crooked, with many shades of black used. Cottons, blends, rayon, pieced and surface textured with stitching. An original design.
Private collection
House of a Different Color
Boing. . .Boing. . .Boing
45″W X 45″H
Ever have one of those days? Just when it seems you’ve got everything in place — all lined up — here comes another curve ball. You try to find a solution and, well. . .before you know it, you’re bouncing off the walls! Cotton and silk fabrics, pieced, appliqued and surface textured with stitching. An original design.
Hiroshige Reflections
47″W x 60″H
Sitting on a balcony in a Honolulu high-rise looking at the tall buildings reflecting in one another’s windows, I made sketches of these and many other window reflections. This particular one made it to my design board. The Hiroshige reference is to the Japanese artist’s method of drawing hard rain in such a stylized way. I’ve always admired it, and now I’ve achieved my version with heavy stitching in the sleeves of this kimono. Commercial cottons, pieced, fused, appliqued and surface textured with stitching. An original design.
Stonehenge: Still Standing
40″W X 40″H
Leaving one century and entering another — time after time. How we measure time can be very personal or quite global. Standing the test of time, Stonehenge continues to intrigue and inspire. Measuring time was one purpose of Stonehenge — the Summer and Winter solstices could be determined by the alignment of the sun with particular stones. I have expressed my fascination with the layers of time that have settled over these symbols by visually layering the fabrics. I’ve focused on the stones, the sun and sky — all as elements that have shared that space for centuries. Hand-dyed and commercial cottons, appliqued, fused, pieced and heavily surface textured with stitching. An original design.
detail
Pulse
21″W x 62″H
A game of angles, shadows and color. This piece has a strong “vibration” factor. Hand-dyed and commercial cottons, pieced, fused and highly surface textured with stitching. An original design.
detail
Pocketful of Wye
51″W X 51″H
This commissioned piece is based on an earlier design of mine. The clients are electrical engineers, hence the use of the electrical term “wye.” The sashing and borders are pieced and fused dupioni silk. As you walk by this piece, the grain changes on each small patch of silk gives the illusion of movement. Cottons and silks, pieced, appliqued, fused and heavily surface textured with stitching. An original design.
Collection of Silverman & Light, Inc.
Sumi
23.5″W X 51″H
This commissioned piece is made to fit a specific wall of a private home. It started with some brown cotton that I painted with black acrylic in circular patterns. It looked very like sumi ink painting. That fabric was cut into rectangles and built-upon with other cottons. With the use of black stitching and inks, I “encouraged” the black to seep into the surrounding fabrics thereby layering curves over the grid. An original design.
Fool Metal Jacket
72″W x 27″H
A new take on the traditional fabric “sandwich.” The front is aluminum; the back is brass. The “batting” is actually industrial drainage plastic. The frog closures on the front of the jacket are binder clips. It’s all held together with screws, nuts, a variety of washers and metal cable. Brass, copper, aluminum, galvanized and stainless steel, plastic and rubber. An original design.
back
front detail
back detail
Streaming Colors
45″ W X 45″H
Muted tones of green and gold are set off by strong purple “vessels” bursting with color chips streaming across the face of this piece. The borders and sashing use some “pet” silk fabric I’ve been saving for many years – a fabulous French silk embroidered with multi-colored rectangles that had been lovingly unfolded and refolded – waiting for exactly the right project. Voila! This is it! Cottons, silk, pieced, appliqued, fused and heavily surface textured with stitching. An original design.