In the Where Do We Go From Here? series, I explore way-finding in a complex and chaotic world. This piece was inspired by the ancient Peruvian Wari textile below, and the American quilt block called ‘flying geese.’ I love to combine elements of old and new to create a new ‘species’ of textile art.
I am thrilled to announce that this work will be part of the Smithsonian’s We Are the Story traveling exhibition. Learn more about the exhibition, Curated by Carolyn Mazloomi, here.
The Weight of Water by Mary Vaneecke, 20” x 20” by 12”
When I attended a photo shoot for The Migrant Quilt Project I was struck by the fabric slings for water bottles that Jody Ipsen brought from campsites along the border. Jody is the founder of the MQP. Crossers or their loved ones or immigrants rights groups make these slings hastily. They sometimes include encouraging messages like bueno suerte (good luck) or contigo en la distancia (with you on your journey). It hit me how these migrants had to carry enough water with them to survive their journey. They had to decide what to carry with them across the border, and what to leave behind on their way to a new life.
The items left at campsites or layups tell of a journey fraught with peril and loss. Jody allowed me to photocopy pages from a book for prayers to Santa Muerte, or Saint Death. Santa Muerte is important because she can protect crossers from violent death. Jody also shared copies from a small notebook filled with handwritten poetry or Verzos. (One of those poems is for Mother on Mother’s Day.) Ten dollars worth of pesos secreted into hand-stitched hems is another frequent find. Migrants often carry milagros or votives with them. Empty gallon jugs and carpet shoes, which mask footprints when worn over street shoes, are common in layup sites along the border.
My version of these slings include headlines from American newspapers about the official policies dealing with migrants, as well as reproductions from prayer and poetry books found on the border.
Found objects (water bottles and carpet shoes), deconstructed American flag and denim jeans, vintage mola (maker unknown), milagros, woven textiles from South and Central America (makers unknown), silk organza, cotton, vintage Mexican flag collectible, Virgin de Guadelupe fabric, facsimiles of found objects, fusible web.
Machine and hand stitch, image transfer, fusing, applique.
New Work: Back to ‘Mending’
Yet another new work inspired by Hazel Hall’s poem, “Mending.” Full text of the poem is here. Written about 100 years ago (Hall died in 1924), it is the gift that keeps on giving! Hall describes a mundane household chore as a subversive act, ‘a little travesty on life.’ It just seems to fit our zeitgeist, doesn’t it?
This piece combines several of the techniques I have used in the last year: layered sheers, cutting, burning, and visible mending. It feels radical to me, but still beautiful. Similar to Haiku III, but dimensional instead of fused flat. Best of all, I have ideas for several more pieces in this style.
Stay tuned.
Fabric, dyes, fusible web.
Fusing, dyeing, burning, machine stitch, cut work.
photo credit: Jack Kulawik