Sunday, February 12, 2012

Metamorphosis in my studio

"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:

  1. 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!

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  2. That squiggly background stitching is great, Terry. With the scissors and background you really showed a metamorphosis.

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  3. 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.

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  4. 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.

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  5. 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.

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  6. 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!

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  7. 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!

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  8. 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.

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  9. I don't like bugs in general, except for ladybugs, but I agree that this one is really pretty.

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  10. 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.

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  11. 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.

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  12. 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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