Salli McQuaid: Caiman Three, 20"w” x 13”h, 2010. Detail R.

Artist Statement

Caiman Three combines floral and reptilian imagery. I thought it would be really fun to place images alluding to the Caiman croc in floral imagery, essentially forming a huge flower from the whole. Caiman crocs are the most harmless of crocs. They generally won't attack unless provoked. They are also, with their long noses and puffy cheeks, perhaps the most visually appealing of the crocodile-alligator family. Caiman are often portrayed as cute animals in cartoon drawings. So it seems natural to depict them either as, or amongst, seemingly universally-loved flowers. While the piecing in Caiman Three is fairly simple, the stitching and detail are precise.