TEN :: new work at Artstream Studios

art stream studios is a great space ! susan and rainer are wonderful people and it's their TENTH anniversary as a gallery/teaching space [my god how time flies]. remember when lisa congdon and i had a show there together? 

ten :: green, 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

ten :: green - detail , 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

anyway, susan asked if i would want to be a part of their TEN show - with the theme being "10" to interpret however i wanted.

hmmmm.

ten :: gray , 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

ten :: gray - detail, 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

so i started researching 10. first i was looking at all the 10 codes  - like 10-4 - [like you hear on any cop show]

but i couldn't figure out how to make work from those. [altho i still want to use them somehow].

ten :: blue , 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

ten :: blue - detail, 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

then i started researching traditional anniversary gifts.

and liked that 10 was tin.  so then i started researching tin. and i tried a couple things out [using the elemental drawing of tin], but wasn't sure where that was going to go... and then i stumbled upon tin punch patterns.  and voila ! i had the ah-ha moment.

ten :: yellow, 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

ten :: yellow - detail, 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

i thought.... why not punch the hole patterns - but on paper. and then do some kind of embroidery on top. i thought it should be traditional embroidery - cross stitch seemed appropriate. i was hoping the layering of  texture on texture would be visually appealing. and to tie it even more to the idea of 10 i thought i should do a 10-value scale in one color.

voila.

ten :: gray, 2013, cross stitch and pin holes on paper, 10.5x10.5 inches framed

in the end i like how these are really similar to color field paintings - but so much more WONKY with all the evidence of the hand. i was working on these on my trip to boston and NY - i made a little kit to take with me with all the supplies. one airline attendant kept joking with me everytime he walked by me on the plane. is that for me? you never make me anything? are you done yet? that's going to take longer than this flight isn't it... funny.

all the work is up - the opening is tonight ! wish i could go... BUT it looks like i'll be headed back to NH later this summer [more on this shortly]. if you are interested in any of these works they are in the artstream shop. 

and in other news. i got a zoku popsicle maker on sale. it's hot here. the little wants strawberry pops. i don't know who is more excited. her or me...