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| Fiori Fun, based on Fiori Boat by Dale Chihuly, seen at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas |
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| A close-up of some of the stitching, painting, beading, and trims I used to capture the curves and colors of the original. |
My piece is based on Dale Chihuly's Fiori Boat, which I saw at Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas, when I was there two years ago.
Usually when we travel, it is for my husband's business. I get to sight-see, but he is busy with work and doesn't get to come with me. But on this trip, all we had to accomplish was meeting an auctioneer, to hand off a collection of artifacts my mother-in-law wanted to sell. We had lots of time to see all the sights, and were happily surprised by how many of them there were! I have contented memories of strolling leisurely at Crystal Bridges, taking in the art.
To capture Chihuly's flowing glass forms, I used a variety of techniques, including quilting and then painting the quilted areas, raw edge applique, beading, and embroidery. In the areas of the background trees and foreground grasses, I added some big stitching to suggest highlights and shadows.
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| Ribbon, embroidery floss, and paint add shadows and highlights. |
It was fun to pull lots of trims and ribbons from the stash I inherited. The little boat was quilted as a separate piece, because I wanted it to look really three-dimensional. The blue borders are from a piece that I hand-dyed a few years ago.
Chihuly put about 150 glass forms into his boat -- I don't have near that many! But I enjoyed capturing my impressions of his fabulous piece.
What an amazing art installation and a fabulous tribute in your mini quilt, I love it
ReplyDeleteThank you, it was a great inspiration for our theme!
DeleteI can really see how the boat was such a great source of inspiration but I love the way you have taken the idea and moved it on with all your different materials! You've captured a quality of the original but totally made this your own exciting image.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I knew I wanted to capture this boat, but it wasn't until I thought of using buttons and beads to portray the glass pieces that I got really excited about making it. And I seem to use notions for each theme, so I don't know why it didn't occur to me as soon as I heard the theme! :)
DeleteAs soon as I saw your piece I recognised the source of your inspiration! I too have seen it, but in a gallery along with a host of other Chihuly pieces, and not in a park in Arkansas, but in Groningen in The Netherlands. You have really captured the spirit of his boat even though your materials and techniques are different. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I love his work and it would be fun to do a series based on all the places I have seen it.
DeleteMy grandmother's family came from Gronigen but I have never been there, even though I have been in the Netherlands a few times. I would love to go!
I've never seen Chihuly pieces, but I would love to. You did a great job of capturing the idea with your boat! What fun it must have been to create. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI love his work so much and have seen it in at least 4 different cities. He is often inspired by textiles, so I enjoy making textiles that are inspired by his glass work.
Gwen! Wow! I enlarged the photo to see the details. Double wow. I always admire the variety of techniques you put into these quilts as opposed to my plain patchwork. Your background is as beautiful as the boat itself.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and I admire how you evoke memories with your patchwork! :) I would like to add that level into patchwork pieces that I do -- so far, for me, I have kept the two areas separate. The art quilts have feelings and memories, patchwork quilts are just for color and pattern. I would like to integrate those qualities better in both.
Delete(This may show up twice -- the first time I typed it, it did not appear as a reply directly to you, Maureen.)
Wonderfully interpreted inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I had fun working on it!
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ReplyDeleteI don't know what awes me most - Chihuly's Fiori Boat or your wonderful textile interpretation. You've managed to capture the colours, the spirit and the shapes so beautifully. I should never have thought it would be possible! An amazing quilt :)
ReplyDeleteHa! Definitely the Chihuly piece! I have watched videos of how those pieces are created, and the team work and technical skills are amazing. And he and his team are so prolific.
DeleteBut I am glad I managed to capture a little of the joy I feel when seeing his work! :)
I have seen many of Chihuly's works in parks and museums and love them all! (Have you visited Chihulys Garden and Glass in Seattle? There are pieces there I have not seen anywhere else.) You are right, one could do a series of art quilts with his work. I like how you made it your own, as previously stated. And all the techniques and materials you used are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYes! I have seen his Garden and Glass in Seattle, also two galleries and Bellagio in Las Vegas, also some installations at the St. Louis Botanical Garden, also installations in the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Dallas Museum of Art. I love how he included a whole room for his textile and basketry sources of inspiration in Seattle!
DeleteOh my goodness what a wonderful textile recreation from that photo. So happy and whimsical. Love it
ReplyDeleteThank you and I hope you are over your injury now!
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