I am delighted that my artwork Flotsam & Jetsam is a finalist in the Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize 2018: Ebb & Flow and is on exhibition at Carnegie Gallery at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania in Hobart until Saturday 2 June 2018. Open 9am-5pm daily. Entry $10 ($8 concession).
Flotsam & Jetsam has its genesis in my Weekly Art Project. In particular, Tidelines and Water’s Edge aligned with the exhibition theme of ebb and flow.
I was also inspired by the terracotta and teal palette of Russell Drysdale’s Boy with a Lizard that was on exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery at the same time as my solo exhibition earlier this year:
This time I wanted to explore a diagonal composition as I pictured the waves bringing seaweed and other debris onto shore. A quick iPad sketch helped me plan my design.
Whereas my weekly art project textile sketches are small (6x6in, 15x15cm), for this work I was aiming for at least 90x90cm. I marked out the size on my design wall to guide me along the way: It looks rather limp on the design wall but then comes the transformative power of intensive stitching. These stitching lines are spaced at 5mm and echo the ebb and flow of the main design. Frequent colour changes in thread colour add visual interest to the negative space.
Even in grayscale, this work has plenty of visual texture:
The final work measures 90x94cm*. If anyone is attending the Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize 2018: Ebb & Flow exhibition, I would love to have an installation photo.
Flotsam & Jetsam: 90x94cm
In the cross-over zone between the edge of the water and the dunes, you can see the tidelines and patterns formed by the ebb and flow of the sea and accretions of debris, seaweed and sand. A constant process of renewal and erasure.
*Actually, it is slightly smaller now. As I reported on my Facebook page, I had it pinned to my design wall to photograph it and it was pristine. The following day, when I took the work down, I found an sizeable hole in it. Several days later, I found a large grasshopper skulking behind a suitcase in my studio. My guess is that it got hungry. Fortunately, the hole was right on the edge and I could trim it off.
Anne Carter says
A funny story to tell to go along with your quilt although I’m sure you weren’t amused at the time! Beautiful simplicity of design and stunning colours.