When I read the prompt I was in the middle of a protracted fabric dyeing session so my mind went to how much water we use when drying or printing our fabrics, and how much water is used in general to produce cotton fabrics. I also thought about how some of the best dyeing techniques are based on letting water (and the dye it carries with it) flow naturally along the creases and folds in wet fabric. I dyed some cotton and some cotton organdie using a tray dyeing method. I broke one of the rules I set myself all those months ago when we started this round of prompts to always use fabrics from the same colour family – this piece needed to be blue. 

Seemed quite simple. Job done.

And then I read about Trumps’ pathetic excuse for not visiting the American cemetery during his visit to France. I’m not american but I found it unbelievably insulting – insulting to all our dead. Insulting to my grandfather who was killed at sea in 1944 when my Dad was just 8 months old. How does he keep getting away with like this? Why is his own party willing to keep going with the flow? Going with the flow when he insights violence; when he is racist and sexist; when he lies? Bobbing along the surface impervious to the dangers below.

We live in worrying times. When will we stop going with the flow and realise we are drowning?

Flow

30 inches x 20 inches

Artists own dyed fabrics

Layered, fused and machine stitched

With thanks to Maggie Pearson whose striking use of red and orange patches to represent life jackets in a recent quilt inspired my drowning square.