House of Passion

Salli McQuaid:
House of Passion (Cosmic Illusion #72), 59"w x 39"h, 2010.

House of Passion: detail.

House of Passion Built

Inspired by a class taken with Karen Combs in 2009, Salli McQuaid's House of Passion is finally, in October of 2010, a reality.

House of Passion is my first complete composition using Karen Combs' "Patchwork Illusions" methodology, wherein diamonds and color saturation are used to create a kind of kinetic perspective," said McQuaid. "Additionally, I had to devise obscure piecing methods which were at times combined with additional diamonds to form the background and borders the way I wanted them."

Totally outside the usual genre of her work, the complex quilt was a real personal challenge, said McQuaid. "I truly admire Karen Combs, her exemplary teaching, and her work."

The title "House of Passion" was inspired by a retreat that McQuaid attended with Fr. Cedric Pisegna, a Passionist priest who spreads an inspirational, positive approach to Catholicism through his TV ministry, retreats, and the books he writes. After viewing the quilt, Fr. Cedric said, "Keep living your dreams! Wonderful." His programs are on Channel 57 TV at 8:30 a.m., Central time [frcedric@frcedric.org].