Hawaiian
Blue
(Cosmic
Illusion #2)
Hawaiian Blue: 59"x 28", 2006, a minimalist quilt. Arrow detail from Hawaiian Blue.
Embroidery detail from Hawaiian Blue. The quilt back is almost as important as its front. The stitchery must be neat, and there should be no sewn-in wrinkles.
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. This shot shows the Japanese "rising steam" pantograph (quilting pattern), done in metallic threads. It also shows minimal piecing and the binding edge. The arrow detail in Hawaiian Blue was cut from hand-dyed silk. It was minimally embroidered. Embroidery enhancement was kept to a minimum. The back of Hawaiian Blue shows the sleeves (top), in which the hanging rod is placed. It shows pantograph detail and the label (right corner). Note there is room for a third supporting bracket in the center of the sleeves. All my quilts are signed, titled, and dated.
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.
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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
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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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