Horizon I, 12 x 12 inches, ©2005 Deidre Adams
This piece is like an old friend to me. I recently had a chance to see it again after it came back to me from the Fine Focus 2006 traveling exhibition, before I shipped it on to the buyer. When I first made it back in 2005, my only goal was challenging myself to work within the very small format required by Fine Focus. Although at that time I had no idea that it would turn into an ongoing series, I did make two others at the same time. That may have been what helped me to see that this was an idea worth pursuing through more variations.
Here’s a photo of all three of them together. I thought they made a nice triptych, although after the first one sold, that was the end of that. I still have Horizons II & III.
Horizon I, II, and III; 12 x 12 inches (ea.), ©Deidre Adams
The challenge of making work this small within the fiber medium is that because of its size, weight, and physical presence, it’s hard to avoid the association with other familiar things made of fabric: placemats and potholders. Small paintings don’t have this problem – they’re still paintings.
Lots of artists have discovered that mounting these smaller pieces can solve the potholder problem. There are a myriad of ways of doing this, including matting and framing, attaching to a larger fabric-covered mounting, or attaching to a canvas. The latter is my preferred method. I use a stretched canvas, attach the piece by hand-stitching it (I’m afraid of glues or other adhesives), and then paint the edges in a coordinating color. Here’s an image showing it from the front and side:
I think this gives it enough presence to make it look like a work of art and not a household object.
I don’t think your work could ever look like a household object Diedre, It is stunning
I tried sewing a small quilt to a canvas, but I left a much bigger boarder, thinking it would look like mat. But now that I see yours done this way, it looks more sophisticated. But your work always does!
This is a wonderful piece and even it wasn’t beautifully mounted like this I don’t think it could ever get mistaken as a potholder or a placemat!
Thanks so much for sharing your hanging techniques. This method works so well for your pieces. Even your smaller pieces still have such an airiness about them that they don’t feel small.
I laughed when I read of the potholder/placemat situation. The last gallery I was in used my pieces as display mats for other artists’ work.
That would be a good reason to make the piece in a specific size if you knew you were purchasing stretched canvas. Maybe you do your own to match the size of your pieces. Anyway they look great like that. I think it helps the audience take them more seriously as art. I have had my pieces used as table toppers in a gallery setting too and I felt it was very demeaning.
Freakin’ gorgeous stuff.
*sigh*
I wish I could touch the nubby surfaces…but your pic did a nuce job of getting the tactile quality across.
Thanks, everyone. Sorry I have been remiss about responding to your comments. Kim and Wanda, wow, what an outrage. I hope you were able to turn those experiences into an opportunity to educate those galleries on the nuances of textile art. That’s what our medium requires – constant education and advocacy to the world at large.
These pieces are stunning, Diedre, and could never in a million years be considered pot holders!!
I think they would have worked beautifully as a triptich, which I have found out lately is a very difficult thing to achieve harmoniously.
You’ve mounted this one imacuuatley on the canvas, it works beautifully .
How absolutely outrageous , Kim and Wanda, I hope other poeple’s insensitivity hasn’t put you off exhibiting.
Wonderful work!