"One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in his bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug."
When I read that our first challenge theme for our new series was "Metamorphosis" my first thought was the book by Franz Kafka—required reading in a literature class in college. It opens with the sentence above. Though I loved the book, I wanted to think further about the theme. It struck me that what we do with fabric and a few simple tools is also a metamorphosis. Fabric scraps become something else—art. And just as Kafka's Gregor could morph into a monstrous bug, so could my fabric.
12 comments:
what a great metamorphosis of fabric bits and pieces into a truly wonderful bug - not monstrous and verminous looking to me, although if I found it in my house I might think otherwise!
That squiggly background stitching is great, Terry. With the scissors and background you really showed a metamorphosis.
What a delightful way to approach this theme -- and I must admit that my discomfort about bugs is greatly decreased by seeing as a fabric creature! You've illustrated his emergence from fabric so beautifully.
Love that bug! Okay, that's something I will never say to a real bug. The colors you've used here are perfect, I could stare at them and the textures all day.
I read that story in school too -- though I think it may have been High School, along with A Tale of Two Cities, which I slogged through. Didn't have to slog through Kafka though -- that was wonderfully weird. Your interpretation is wonderfully weird too. :-) I really like how the bug emerges from the fabric and stitches. I'm amazed at how you've been able to seamlessly blend the literary and textile themes.
It's so fun! Really whimsical and clever. I especially love those back legs that are just stitched outlines. I am so happy to see your doodley quilting again too!
You really captured the iridescence of green and red bugs and a feeling of transition. With creatures like this, don't use bug spray in your studio!
I have seen this big bug up close and personal and he/she is not scary at all. I loved this interpretation of the theme.
I don't like bugs in general, except for ladybugs, but I agree that this one is really pretty.
I have been waiting to see how you used your "doodling" on your backgrounds on a piece. It is fantastic. The bug is wonderful and the colors luscious.
Hello, beautiful bug! Terry, he's wonderful. My inarticulate observations - his proportions beautifully use the 12 x 20 space; he really is emerging from the fabric scraps; the doodley quilting anchors him to the background so well.
Love the Bug! I especially like how he materializes from the fabric--his head is well formed and distinct while his back end is still in process.
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