The Project: This week, I've been making a textile collage miniature of the Frida Quilt.
Suzanah Furtick 2018
Image Research: I've always loved this picture of Frida, The Eyebrows, the regal tranquilty of her expression. I researched the photographer, Nickloas Muray, and discovered that he was a immigrant to Ellis island in 1913. The story of his rise to fame is inspiring, as he arrived to America with just $25 and a determination to work hard and make something of his life. It's particularly interesting that to save money in the beginning, he used only one light bulb in his apartment, and only used additional lights when he had guests. Light is so important in photography, so that says something of his sacrifice and resourcefulness.
Suzanah Furtick 2018
Studio Visit: This Wednesday, I had the honor of visiting an artist's (and new friend's) studio. Her name is Lendon Noe, and she is wonderful. Her studio sits on the bottom floor of an old funeral home that a family converted to a house of small apartments, art studios, and a used bookstore. Light pours in windows, some of which are stained glass.
Lendon and I sat together at her long white table as she carefully taped together wads of newspaper into the shape of a bird that she'll wrap in plaster. After the plaster dries Lendon plans to paint them to glow in the dark for a community event she's planning to commemorate Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "Four Freedom's Speech." https://fdrlibrary.org/four-freedoms
Suzanah Furtick 2018
An Artist's Patchwork Life: The overarching point of what Lendon told me was that making a life as an artist in a small town far from the boroughs of New York City is possible, doable, and wonderful. Lendon told me of her journey through different types of loss and she told me about the process of self-discovery that has accompanied hardship. Her journey is a patchwork lifestyle-- a long process of stitching colorful experiences together, finding opportunities to work here and there, and creating things of beauty from the pieces you pick up.
Mending the Broken Parts: A mentor of mine recently asked me if I thought my love of quilting comes from a desire to make peace with the world and mend brokenness. That's exactly it. I would hope that anyone who knows my true strengths and vulnerabilities, my triumphs and my epic failures, knows that my patchwork is not perfect, but it is love.
Suzanah Furtick 2018