"Flow" with the Moment

I have been fairly consumed with holiday preparation this week. Stitching continues on a number of projects. I am happy to report that my quilt, Ice Flow, was successfully auctioned off in the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture event in November and now has a new home in Spokane, WA. It was one of my favorite pieces and I am happy to know it is appreciated.

Given my roots in the art of aikido, which is all about blending and working with energy, the whole concept of flow has always intrigued me.

A few weeks ago, I spent a few luxurious days wandering in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. One of the pieces that I was immediately drawn to was, not surprisingly, entitled Flow.

It is by Fujikasa Satoko and is described as a sand-glazed stoneware with matte white slip.

Enjoy!

Busy November!

My art quilts will be quite busy in early November.

Ice Flow is out in Spokane, WA where it is currently hanging in a gallery at the Northwest Museum for Arts and Culture.  It has been juried into a silent auction that will take place on November 9. I was able to see Ice Flow on exhibit. You can see it in this photo - it is the top work.

It was hung from the ceiling of the gallery, about 6 or so inches from the wall.  Here is a photo of it from the side - I thought it was a very effective way to hang it - I had sent a slat that fit in the sleeve and had eye hooks on the ends. Thin transparent cord was used to suspect it.

Other art quilts traveling in November include Spirit which I had previously posted about and continues  its stint at the Tubac Center for the Arts until November 19.  Two other pieces, Journey and View From On High, open on November 9 at the Main Street Arts gallery in Clifton Springs, NY in the exhibit "Fabulous Fibers".

And, finally, Zen Moment, has been in Houston this week as part of the annual SAQA Benefit auction.

A Special Exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci

While visiting my daughter earlier this month in Spokane, WA, I had the chance to stop in at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. I admit I have a special bias towards this museum as it was the site of our daughter's rehearsal dinner prior to her wedding. I always check out what is being featured at the museum when I am in town.

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture

This time the museum is featuring an exhibit on the mastery of Leonardo da Vinci. Entitled "Man - Inventor - Genius", there are 60 models of inventions that Leonardo wrote about. These are displayed along with replicas of some of his famous masterpieces that he was painting at the same time. One begins to really grasp the amazing breadth of work of Leonardo.

In my travels I have been fortunate to see some of Leonardo's art works in person - the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris and The Last Supper in Milan, Italy. But, I never tire of being reminded of the genius of da Vinci. One piece of information from the many displays that caught my eye this time related to the base he used for his paints. He was the first to experiment an oil base and it explained why people marveled at the depth of color he was able to create.

My favorite displays had to do with his thoughts on flight for man.

Here is an overview of the main display area at the museum with a backdrop of The Last Supper. All of these models were made to scale and produced by the Italian artisan family who has been building the inventions to da Vinci specifications for two centuries. The models cover flight, civil machines, hydraulics & engineering and military machines.

 The exhibit is at the museum until September 5. Hope that you can see it, or watch for where it might be going next. It is inspiring to view.