I started this piece as a way to meet the deadline that was approaching – the Transformation prompt for Cloth in Common was due for listing by the end of September. I had been busy and distracted by my new studio. So, I thought that taking an old quilt and transforming it would be quick and easy. Ah, the little lies we tell ourselves. Sacred Cow refers to the commonly held belief that you should never cut up an old quilt.
I had just decided to convert it into a 3D wall sculpture and gotten to the “no turning back now” point, when my elderly father became ill and died. Family comes first and I was away to spend time with my mother and siblings, to organise a funeral and start the process of settling my mother into more appropriate surroundings. I want to thank Karol for reaching out to me and being so supportive of my needs at that time, understanding that CIC had to wait for a while.
Of course, returning to an interrupted project and finishing it, when you were in the middle of a completely off-the-grid, experimental journey for the very first time and learning as you go, is a bit of a difficult task. I learned to water ski when I was a teenager and my tutor told me “If you don’t fall off then you are not trying hard enough.” In the end, to bring this quilt to a conclusion, I worked on the principle that you shouldn’t let perfection get in the way of completed and that I had started this to see what the transformation would draw out of a tired old quilt. Perfect execution was never my aim.
So, I focused on the interesting angles and the way that the 3D folds revealed a different picture when I changed the viewing direction. I’m not sure that I will rush into another experiment like this, and I’m not particularly proud of the quality of the sewing or the artistic merit, but there is always enjoyment in trying something new and different, even if you do fall off occasionally.
Commenced: August 2023
Completed: 10 November 2023
Dimensions: 40” H X 37” W
Materials & Technique: Commercial plain coloured cotton fabric; with wadding and printed backing already quilted; sliced and resewn; encased triangular strips sewn together on a reused block-out curtain; core flute sign board inserted as 3D stiffening.
Bronwyn, I think this is a wonderful transformation of an old quilt! Congratulations!
I really like what you did. Perhaps speed is better in some cases!
This has so much energy. The broken repetition created by the folds and the way you cut and resewed is very appealing to me. The colors are gorgeous against the black!
Ah, I love your frankness and open, humble honestly. You are a person I’d like to know! And — congratulations on finishing. I use an app called Duolingo every day to try to improve my Spanish. When it takes me a long time to struggle through a lesson it tells me: not “Speedy” or “Quick”, but “Committed!” I feel both chastened and praised.
Your quilt is delicious, I think the colors are stunning, and it inspired an idea for me. I have a lot of sacred cows that would benefit from being recreated. Now I think I’ll try a 3D experiment. Thank you
Transformation reigns here, and your stunning cloth art is truly a beautiful 3D piece, Bronwyn. Your art speaks to us of delicious colour and bold steps to new design. Do know that family is always first and forever, most important in our lives. Thank you for sharing.
It is an interesting concept. The charm of it rests in the pieced triangles contrasting with the organic folds. When I look at it, I wonder what it would look like in gray scale or if those triangular pieces were drunkards path variation. this piece is reminiscent of a piece made of wood featuring a quilt pattern; both of them invite touching.