Karol Kusmaul
The prompt of Transformation gave me a push to create an image I’ve been thinking about for nearly a year and a half. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, and the TV news channels were showing video of the victims, I was deeply touched and disturbed. We began getting reports of civilians, schools, hospitals, and blocks of apartments being targeted. One early news video especially tore at my heart. A Ukrainian farm woman told of Russian soldiers who came and took her husband. Later she found his body in an alley a block away. Other reports repeated news of this kind of activity and added that the soldiers then raped the mothers and girls. I created a young family and thought about how their day may have started, and how it transformed so dramatically.
I wanted to show the difference between a happy sharing of breakfast, and the horror of what the afternoon brought. By omitting the eyes, I bring focus to their mouths. It appeared to me that many of the victims were farmers, so I chose to use wool as backing and binding. The Ukraine words express the title, Later That Same Day.
This work is part of a series I’m making towards a Master’s degree in Painting through Savannah College of Art and Design. I am currently working on a global community participation project for my thesis. I would appreciate your involvement very much. Details are on my website: https://www.kquilt.com
If you share my concerns and can contribute to the project, I will be most grateful. Thank you.
Later That Same Day, 2023
43.5” x 37”
Commercial and upcycled cotton and rayon fabrics, wool, tailor’s chalk, embroidery thread.
Hand appliqued, hand quilted.
その日のうちに トランスフォーメーションの刺激は、私が 1 年半近く考え続けてきたイメージを作成するための背中を押してくれました。 2022年2月にロシアがウクライナに侵攻し、テレビのニュースチャンネルが犠牲者の映像を放映していたとき、私は深く感動し、動揺しました。 民間人、学校、病院、アパートのブロックが標的にされているという報告が届き始めました。 ある初期のニュースビデオは特に私の心を引き裂きました。 ウクライナの農場の女性は、ロシア兵がやって来て夫を連行したことについて語った。 その後、彼女は1ブロック離れた路地で彼の遺体を発見した。 他の報道では、この種の活動に関するニュースが繰り返され、その後兵士たちが母親と少女たちを強姦したと付け加えた。 私は若い家族を作り、彼らの一日がどのように始まったのか、そしてそれがどのように劇的に変化したのかについて考えました。 幸せに朝食を共有することと、午後に起こる恐怖との違いを示したかったのです。 目を省略することで、口元に焦点を当てています。 犠牲者の多くは農民であると思われたので、裏地と綴じ具としてウールを使用することにしました。 ウクライナの言葉は、タイトル「Later That Same Day」を表しています。 この作品は、サバンナ芸術デザイン大学で絵画の修士号を取得するために制作しているシリーズの一部です。 私は現在、卒業論文のためのグローバルコミュニティ参加プロジェクトに取り組んでいます。 ぜひよろしくお願いいたします。 詳細は私のウェブサイトをご覧ください: https://www.kquilt.com 私の懸念を共有し、プロジェクトに貢献していただければ、大変感謝いたします。 ありがとう。 その同じ日の後半、2023 年 43.5インチ×37インチ 市販およびアップサイクルされた綿およびレーヨン生地、ウール、仕立て用チョーク、刺繍糸。 ハンドアップリケ、ハンドキルティング。
This is a vey powerful piece Karol.
You have depicted the tragedy of war and human suffering well.
Its always the innocents who suffer most, losing their homes, families and sometimes their lives.
Your compassionate imagery shows us the brutality of war. One would think humanity has learned from the past. Not as long as there are individuals who are willing to use force for their own ends.
Your work is deeply touching.
There was a war in our parents’ time.
and I often hear stories about it.
It would be foolish to repeat that tradedy.
Your work expresses this very well.
Thank you Micky. I agree that we should learn from history to live in peace and harmony.
There was a war in our parents’ time, and we often hear stories about it, and it would be foolish to repeat that tragedy. Your work expresses this very well.
There was a war in our parents’ time, and we often hear stories about it, and it would be foolish to repeat that tragedy. Your work expresses this very well.
Wow, I share your compassion and grief over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. You’ve depicted it well.
Thank you, Martha. It’s a terrible situation, and I was compelled to speak out.
Karol, I continue to be amazed by your talent but am not a bit surprised by your compassion.
Awwwww! Is this MY Judy Johnson, who taught me to use email and the internet? Thanks so much for your kind words.
This is an excellent slap in the head to pay attention. What we all fear and pray doesn’t happen to us, but it is a global problem that inches it’s way across the seas and invades more homes. Here in America it is with guns in the hands of children and haters who are tearing away at our dreams of a safe world, while the rich turn blind eyes to the dangers to our democracy.
Thank you, Mary, for your beautiful righteous indignation!!! We need to get angry about these issues!.
Pain and fear, and the tragedy of war.. all shared in your work here. You have touched many hearts and remind us of the many who woke one day, lost their loved ones and will never be the same.
We never know what may transpire on any given day. No matter where we live. But this treachery is unnecessary and unwarranted, in my mind.
What a thoughtful quilt. Really brings out the horror and serendipity of war.
Thank you Deb. I was unsure how this piece would be received. I just needed to make it.