Cosmic Illusions


by

Salli McQuaid

Laughing Dragon Art Gallery

lofty quilts and high art



Plum Dragon, 2009, archived

on edge art studios
216 Whistling Duck RD
Walla Walla, WA 99362
artistwriter@oplink.net
1-509-876-4016
 


 

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Hawaiian Blue  (Cosmic  Illusion  #2)

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Hawaiian Blue: 59"x 28", 2006, a minimalist quilt.

This moody quilt belongs to the minimalist school of art in that piecing, imagery and stitchery are kept as simple and subtle as possible. Note Hawaiian Blue's extreme asymetric composition.

Hawaiian Blue quilt ...

A particular technical challenge I had when making Hawaiian Blue was that I used silk fabric for the black areas. Silk ravels, ravels, and then it ravels some more. I was afraid some pieces would disappear before the quilt was finished. So I learned to zigzag seams and use fray check on other edges.

When I was finished with the quilt, my studio looked like it had experienced a black snow storm. A little pickup, some vacuuming, and, after a couple of weeks, I no longer found black pieces of black silk thread in the studio.

Actually, I had many concerns when making this quilt. I wanted the imagery and enhancements to be minimal.

Actually, I had many concerns when making this quilt. I wanted the imagery and enhancements to be minimal. Yet I wanted to convey a Hawaiian theme, with black beaches, crashing waves, native-like motifs, lava, and exotic flowers.

To me, Hawaii is the greatest of retreats, and this quilt is a retreat. Hopefully, the viewer steps into a room and experiences the vista of Hawaii. The vertical Japanese "rising steam" pantograph pattern symbolizes the warm tropical atmosphere that frosts the Hawaiian vista.

-- Salli McQuaid, 2007

Quilt History: Selected for "Windows" exhibition, The Gallery at St. Johns, Kingston, NY, 11/07.
Chama Outdoor Quilt Festival, Chama, NM, 6/08.
 


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Photos by Mike McQuaid
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