Watch This Video

My friend Anne sent me a link to a video today that should be watched by everyone who is creative, wishes she were creative, or thinks she isn’t creative.  I don’t know how to insert a video, but here’s the link.  The end of the video is definitely in sync with the purpose of my blog.  Even though I’ve not been taking the time lately to blog, I have been taking time to create and to stretch my creativity.  Enjoy the video!

Isaiah 43 Triptych

Blog writing has been on the back burner for a couple of months now as I’ve been working on the projects and papers for my last two D.Min. courses.  My goal is to complete my Theological Aesthetics paper tomorrow.  That’s a big goal because I still have about half of a 15 to 20 page paper to write.

I’ve completed the art project and process paper for Art as Worship, Worship as Art.  It’s taken just about a month to execute this piece, but it’s now properly posted and sent out for my colleagues to comment on, so I think I can post it here now.

I was originally going to do something in textile arts, specifically a baptismal stole, to fulfill the requirement for a piece of art for use in personal and/or corporate worship.  But then I thought I really ought to do something that would stretch me more.  Since I really enjoyed working on The Way of the Cross, I decided to do something in acrylics again.  This time, however, I wanted lots of color.

We had been looking at triptychs during the class and I thought it might be fun to try making one myself.  A triptych is an art piece on three panels, often carved wood or painted, usually hinged, so it can be hung or stood on its own as an altarpiece.

I based my triptych on my favorite biblical passage, Isaiah 43, using verses 1b-2:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

I made the triptych so it could be free-standing on a worship table and be viewed from all sides.  The front depicts verse 2 and has verse 1b painted in metallic gold in Hebrew across the lower portions.

 

The colors of the waters and flames swirl together around a central spiral of verse 2 in Hebrew on the back

and move around to create a smaller spiral as the triptych closes.  

I happened to be working on this piece as word was coming in about the loss of Air France flight 447 from Brazil to Paris.  It became an appropriate way to pray for the victims and to reflect upon God’s presence in the midst of the tragedies of our lives.  

The finished triptych is 24 inches high by 32 inches wide; acrylic on wood.  

This is an original piece of art.  Please do not copy or post pictures anywhere without my written permission.

Quick Update

Back from Holy Rollers Ride and Annual Conference over the weekend. I made my minimum goal of 50 miles. The first day was really hard — lots of steep hills and I only made about ten miles, but did a good 40+ the second day. The longest ride I’ve done yet.

My next D.Min. art project is complete and I’ll post it tomorrow or the next day. Still have a major theology paper to complete and get mailed off.

Life has been very busy, needless to say. And that doesn’t count work!

Holy Rollers

It’s hard for me to believe, but I’m going to be riding with John on the Holy Rollers ride this year.  The Holy Rollers is a group of United Methodist clergy and laity who cycle throughout the year for fun and exercise and then ride a long distance to our Annual Conference in June.  This year the group is riding from Lynchberg, VA to Conference in Norfolk, VA.  About 3,000 people attend the Annual Conference from all over Virginia, but most of them arrive by car.  About 25 will arrive by bicycle this year, having ridden up to 250 miles over 3 days.  Ugh!

I will be riding up to 30 miles each this Friday and Saturday.  John will ride with me (quite slowly by his standards).  Then I’ll get in a support vehicle and drive the rest of the 100 miles each day while he cycles it (much faster).  We will not be riding on Sunday, as we want to be at our churches for Sunday services.  We’ll go to Norfolk by car that evening.  

But our friend Chet will ride the entire way.  Here’s a picture of us today as we prepare for the ride.  Putting three bicycles together in a triangle makes the logo for the Holy Rollers.  I’ve been told this picture and the story I wrote will be on the front page of our local paper tomorrow.  (John and I are center and left–Chet’s on the right.)

You can see a short video on the Holy Roller website from last year’s ride from Mt. Jackson, VA to Roanoke (only about 160 miles!).  John’s in it, but you have to watch carefully.

Still Working

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything.  I’m still working on a paper and a project for my D.Min. classes.  And neither has anything to do with fiber.  I did get some really positive comments on my first mixed media project “The Way of the Cross.”  So that’s been really encouraging and my next/current project is all in acrylic on wood.  I think I’ll wait ’til it’s finished to show it, since it’s not fiber related and this blog is mostly about fiber and textile.  I have at least one other idea in mind for some more mixed media with metal mesh, textile, and hand-made paper that I hope I will get to before too long. 

I’m still plugging away on my “Pentecost Socks” with not much progress to show.  Writing, painting, and, oh yes, work have conspired to keep me from all things related to fiber.  But I have a few things on the back burner that I hope I can get to after my D.Min. work is due at the beginning of July. 

I’ve noted Vicki’s blog here before and it’s always fun to see what she’s doing.  She’s now opened an etsy shop and to celebrate she’s having a drawing for some fabric she has dyed and painted.  It looks really exciting.  Check it out!

I’ll be doing a dyeing demo for the local quilt guild in July, so I’ve got to get going on some of that myself.

To the National Gallery

I haven’t been keeping up with my blog while in D. Min. classes, but I wanted to post today about the exhibit we viewed at the National Gallery of Art called “Heaven on Earth.”  It’s a wonderful exhibit on illuminated manuscripts which happens to be something I’m very interested in right now.  

Here’s one of the pieces we saw.  This is from the National Gallery website — photos aren’t allowed in the exhibit.

Tomorrow we’ll be going to Baltimore to the American Visionary Art Museum and to the Walters to see the St. John’s Bible exhibit.  I can’t wait!.  P.S.  You can see more about the St. John’s Bible here.

In Class

Just a quick post. I’m at the seminary this week and next in D.Min. classes. This week is Theological Aesthetics. I get to present my Way of the Cross project tomorrow. I’m both excited and nervous about hearing reactions.

Mystery Yarn

I got this mystery yarn from my mom last year, and I know she bought it a long time ago.  I don’t know what it is–there were no labels with it–but I’m pretty sure it’s all wool.  I’ve determined that it’s about DK weight.  I love the coloring and have been looking for something to make with it.  

This week I ordered Skein for Skein by Cheryl Potter and found in it a pattern for a cap sleeve Sunshine Lace Cardigan designed by Celeste Pinheiro that I thought might work.  Although the original pattern calls for cotton yarn, there’s a variation done with alpaca that looks nice and I thought I would try doing a substitution since that’s what this book is all about.  

Here’s my swatch that I knitted last night. (Photo not so good since John still has the camera.)

 

It creates a very different look from the original.  Now I’m going to wash and block it to see how it looks and drapes and maintains the gauge.

An Amazing Video

I have been working steadily to complete my preparations for my next D.Min. classes that start in just over a week.  While I was reading I decided to take a break and look at some of the artwork being referenced, rather than just reading about it.  I found this amazing 3D rendition of Picasso’s Guernica.  Since I don’t know how to insert videos into my blog, you’ll have to click on the link to see it.  It takes about 6 minutes to view, but is well worth the time.  

New Sock Start

After numerous tries with the sock yarn I got from the Tour of DC Sock club in January, I may have found a pattern that works with it.  I’m finding that I’m not crazy about this yarn — it’s a little thicker than I like for socks, and the color is brighter than I really like.

Nevertheless I’ve started in again with it and am using Ann Budd’s Mock Wave Cable Socks pattern from Favorite Socks. The picture was taken with my computer’s camera — the first time I’ve tried it — so it’s not fabulous.  But here’s what it looks like so far: