Yesterday's Textiles and Tea featured Deann Rubin, a tapestry weaver, who's trying out three dimensional work.
An illustrator by nature, she uses a lot of computer assist in creating her work, and did not show any looms. No idea what she works on. Unusual, since weavers usually love to show their favorite looms.
Her style is graphic arts, people and letters, and she was invited when she got a work accepted into the Small Works category of the upcoming Handweavers guild exhibit and convention, appealing as a presenter here.
Mostly small works.
This is one of those places where my purist side comes out. I was hoping to discover how tapestry was the best medium for her work. How does texture work here? Why did she choose it over drawing or painting, in both of which she's accomplished? That kind of thing. I was hoping that would come out, but oh well. I had so many questions..
It's like, for instance, portraits done in embroidery, just as a tour de force, unless the medium is vital to the meaning, and sometimes it is. Portraits done in textile fragments can be powerful because the fractured nature of the work carries meaning.
The meaning is in the materials as well as the form. I think it's important to try for that integrity as an artist. Choice of medium is part of what you're saying, not just happenstance.
If you look at Sarah Swett, Archie Brennan, great tapestry designers and weavers, their woven work has to be in tapestry. Wouldn't work as drawings or paintings or edition prints, at all of which they're brilliant.
Anyway this may be a bit far afield for blogistas who don't make art. Bear with me. It's studio talk hunger!
In other news, I got a diagnosis from the biopsy, the upshot of which is Mohs surgery in early December. With any luck I'll be all fixed up and repaired in time for the outbreak of my next calendar year, or trip around the sun. Unsinkable Sagittarius.
What with the other adventures lately, this kind of knocked me down a bit. Tired and frazzled, and so grateful for the email Squad who've been calming me down and cheering me up.
Handsome Son will drive me to and from the appointment, which is in a medical building not far away. He'll deliver me to the right door!
Currently listening to the audio version of Paw and Order, a Spencer Quinn mystery, one of the Bernie and Chet capers. Very funny and cheering.
Chet is a large dog, partner in Bernie's detective agency and the narrator of the stories.
Highly recommended when entertaining listening is needed. Thanks for the reminder about them , C! I read a lot of these years ago, forgot about them, and I'm having a happy reunion.


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