Terry Grant
When I was a child the radio was usually on in our house. My mother listened to the local station, KSEI, through the day as she went about her tasks. I learned the names of all the announcers, as we called them, and recognized their voices. They were part of our community and they brought us the news of the day, the latest music, household hints and, in the evening, the programs that we loved–Fibber McGee and Mollie, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, and many others. My Dad listened to Baseball on Saturday. This was before television, of course. As a pre-teen and teenager, I was far more interested in the rock and roll station than in Mom’s radio station and I treasured my turquoise transister radio. These days we have a far broader selection of media, like the internet and television, but when I’m working in my studio I always have my radio on, tuned to National Public Radio. It is my main source of news and current events, as well as entertainment. And as I have always done, I get to know the news people by their names and their voices and I think of them as part of my community.
I confess I know very little about what radio waves are and how they do what they do, but I know, and always have, that they are invisible and that they are magic. They make possible, not only radio transmissions that bring us our radio stations, but television, cell phones, wireless communication, satellite communications and so much more.
For my “media” response, I considered so many ideas related to this subject and many were negative aspects of our relationships to the word media. I felt we are so surrounded right now by negativity that I longed to make something beautiful and uplifting, and an image came to me of towers emitting silvery, magical waves of music and voices and memories. Radio waves…
Radio Waves
20″ x 40″
Hand-painted fabrics, machine cut fused applique
Music seems to come from a beautiful nostalgic your quilt.
Another thoughtful, imaginative creation from an artist with a special gift. Thank you for expressing what many of your contemporaries feel. Radio waves connected us to the world, especially during the night.
I’ve always had great admiration for your work and the way you interpret landscapes. This post was especially touching. My husband and I fondly remember our attachment to our radios in our youth—he listened to late-night programs/personalities in bed in Chicago when he was way past time for going to sleep, and I had my trusty turquoise (yes!) transistor with me while sewing in my basement. When I hear certain songs (often on TV commercials now) they take me right back to those days. Thank you for this positive look-back at radio days.
Just awesome, Ter! I too have those radio memories. One year, Halloween was on Friday, Lone Tanger evening. No ofy started until it was over.
Wow, what a stunning piece. The dark towers against the lovely modulated background makes such a graphic statement.
As I drive the countryside here in Ontario, I am always on the lookout for the towers – knowing that I am “in range” for my news, music, guidance and emergency response signals. This is a stunning piece Terry – so meaningful just now. We need to hear the vooics and be consoled by the music.
This is just great. I love your story, too.
Terry, what a great idea, and beautifully executed! I love the perspective on the field, the delicate black structures, the gorgeous sky fabrics. Well done!