Without any form of consultation or talking about the subject Isolation, my guest artist Elfriede Grooten and I choose the same starting point for our elaboration of the theme, The Darwin Finches of the Galapagos isles.
You can imagine our surprise when we found out. At that time Elfriede already finished her quilt where I only had worked out the idea roughly. Sketches where made and fabric was chosen, so I decided not to switch subject but continued.
When visiting the Galapagos isles Darwin collected several kinds of finches. After studying them he concluded: “One might really fancy that, from an original paucity of birds in this archipelago, one species had been taken and modified for different ends.” So, due to the fact that they finches where isolated they developed different kind of beaks, matching the food they good find on their island. This is called reproductive isolation.
And we, as human species, will react in a similar way when isolated from each other, each will find it’s own way to cope with isolation.
The upper part of the quilt represents 2019, a period in which we could move around freely. Not knowing what 2020 will bring.
2020 started as 2019 ended. But, very soon stories about a strange virus became news. And a little while later we all where part of a new world.
A world as we only new from movies and books about ancient plagues.
Very soon we alle lived in our own cage, as represented in the middle part of the quilt.
The lower part presents the phase we are moving to, something that is a bit like we used to know the world, but with some new boundaries. Let’s hope there comes a time when we go back to the old ‘normal’. But I think this period of covid will change us all for good.
Hand dyed and hand painted cotton.
Machine pieced and quilted.
28″x40″ inch
Sandrs, thank you for this work. I love your thought process that inspired it. The image gives a real sense of free movement, then confinement, and then cautious emergence again. Well done!
Sandra, this is fascinating! I like the way you divided the “story” in to 3 parts. And the stitching really adds to the piece.
So much to look at in this quilt and I love the painted surfaces
The story of the Galapagos finches is so fascinating and I love how you have made the connection to the ways our current isolation is affecting each of us. Your painted fabric is so effective in giving the sense of shadowy birds moving through a process. Thank you so much for sharing your work with our group for this special round.!
Oops, I got confused about who I was replying to and was thinking this was the work of your guest! Beautiful work, Sandra.