Twisted Textiles

Mmmm! I’ll have mine with a side of packing peanuts.

Plastic and I sorta have this love/hate relationship going on. (It’s presence has saved human lives through technology and medicine, yet it’s sheer abundance has created a deadly “plastic soup” in the Pacific Ocean. Birds constantly mistake plastic pellets for food.)

I’ve also been noticing the new decorations in the trees on our street, put there by the recent harsh winds that have dislodged local litter from it’s hiding places. It has prompted me to go on a few garbage collecting journeys recently. Otherwise known as “shopping for art supplies”.

While trying to figure out new things to do with all this plastic garbage that I’ve found myself collecting, I stumbled across artist John Dahlsen, who makes daily trips to his local Australian shoreline to collect the garbage that washes up there. (See the short feature video at www.Overlander.tv to see John in action.)

This Blue Rope triptych (above) is something I could stare at for a long while. Found colors—whether it be colors of autumn leaves or colors of collected garbage—is something that intrigues me. The washed-up ropes, layered and intertwining together, creates a feeling that is both like a painted landscape and a geological diagram. To me it reads as layers of sedimentary deposits in the earth’s strata…mapped-out all neat and tidy. With just a splash of irony.

As well as assemblage art, Dahlsen offers “plastic purge sculpture” such as this one here (Bronze Plastic Purge 2005). These sculptures, byproducts of industrial manufacture, take on a variety of colors and shapes. I especially love how this one in particular reminds me of skin, or like a glorified internal organ. I could write many paragraphs about it’s tactile qualities, but I don’t want you to feel like I’m teaching a biology class here… (geology, now biology—yes, I’m a sucker for science of all sorts.)

Also, have you:
—heard the statistics on Ireland’s taxing of plastic bags in their grocery stores?

—seen a flyer posted in your local “health food store” notifying that they’ll be doing away with plastic bags in the next few months? (Although, toss-able paper bags aren’t that much better, considering how much energy and resources it takes to produce them.)

I can imagine that other artists are going in a similar direction as John Dahlsen (at least I hope so), and I’ll be doing more research in the future on problematic plastics.

These two were a lot of fun! If they could hold hands and dance in a circle, they would definitely do so.

I found a black plastic garbage bag in the unsurmountable “jungle of art supplies” in my garage, and knew that it would be perfect for a more crisp, formal look to these handbags (I’ve been making them mainly from plastic Kroger/Walmart grocery bags). The yellow on the smaller one is from the weekly newspaper-ads that magically appear at the end of the driveway. The creamier beige on the larger purse is from plain ol’ Kroger bags. All of the bright greens and blues came from various bread and produce bags, and the red was found on a package of bagels.

The patterns and colors were inspired by an Egyptian design that I saw in a book, and there are several others that I’d like to try next! As usual, they are very sturdy and very lightweight. The carrots that we buy come in bags with a beautiful, bright orange color that I’ll have to make use of next…

The larger bag is a good size for sketchbooks and such. I will probably take the smaller one with me to the Address and Redress exhibit opening in Lexington tomorrow night.

Well, this is my idea of bliss, anyway. And as they say, “It’s an Oldie but a Goodie!” (Just who are “they”, anyway?)

Also, it’s a Two-Fer-One deal! The dress is made from the fabric of an old recliner, including some of the covered buttons. The dressform is made of the actual Wood and Workings of the recliner (including the springs and the feet).

The photos are brand new (via the multi-artwork photo session with Jason), but the artwork is not. I made this years and years ago, but it has always been one of my favorites!
(*cue “way-back memory music”…)

This project definitely started me off in the direction that I’ve headed since then, which is increasingly focused on the “why?” of clothing and fashion.

I’ve got boxes of fabric/upholstery samples that will probably end up as another dress. Why a dress? Dresses have always seemed to be on this “higher level” of fashion for me, because I grew up at a time where girls didn’t have to wear dresses. They were something that were for special occasions, and I usually didn’t wear one unless I absolutely had to! So in my mind, a dress is super-special. It speaks of important things.

And art is important to me, so why not celebrate it with lots and lots of dresses?! Call me crazy. Please don’t call the insane asylum. Also, please ignore the drool on my chin.

How timely is this entry!?

This particular ArtDress (I think that’s an official term now?) is made from used dryer sheets…or fabric softener sheets, or anti-static thingys, or whatever term you use. We all pretty much know what they are, but now they are a gown! Photographed by my husband, Jason, these photos do a nice job showing the properties of said dryer sheets. Ghostly, sheer, dainty, delicate…and smelly.

All of those squares had to be ironed flat so that I could sew them together easily. And lemme just say that no matter how “wonderfully fresh and fragrant” those things claim to be, the chemicals in them are terrible! Please don’t kill your brain cells by trying to iron dryer sheets. Or, just please do it in outside with plenty of fresh air. Needless to say, I’ve since stopped using them on my clothes except on mid-winter days of extreme, lightning-like, static cling emergencies.

This dress was originally titled “Slip for a Wedding Gown.” I stopped calling it that a long time ago, but nonetheless, I’ve decided to blog about it in honor of my first wedding anniversary…one whole year already as a married old hag! Yay Hooray for true love! Boo Razz Hiss for toxic chemicals on your clothes and skin!

Also–New New New!

I’m setting up a site/gallery/storefront on ImageKind to showcase the photography that Jason takes of my art; you can see more photos of the dryer sheet ArtDress (and others works which I’ll be blogging about in the near future) by clicking the above link to visit my site at ImageKind… Enjoy!!

I’ve finally got an awesome photo of this artwork! Working on this piece was so tedious that I had a hard time finishing it. (Eating the pistachios wasn’t difficult though…I find them quite addictive sometimes.) I drilled tiny holes in the ends of the shells with my Dremel, and used floral wire to make chains. Of course, I had to throw in a few sequins, too.

I had planned on securing the rows from side to side as well, but as of now, the swingy movement is really fun. It feels so Seventies. Like one of those beaded curtains.

Credit for the fabulous photography (and a million thanks!) goes to my husband, Jason. He recently photographed this and many of my other artworks…so there will be more high-fashion glitz in the near future!

Now, if I could just find an “event” at which to wear this…
Somebody invite me to a party, ’cause I’m ready!

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