In a recent textile workshop, Bringing out the Best: Visually Telling our Stories in Collage and Stitch, with artist and instructor, Merrill Comeau, I had the opportunity to collaborate with three other artists to create a textile collage.
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| Collaborative textile collage project in progress. |
My fellow collaborators were Michelle, Susan, and Rae, and our group’s theme was “Spring.” The “visual thinking strategy” exercises in which all workshop attendees participated, generated lists of words, phrases, emotions, memories, shapes, and colors—both symbolically and literally—that were reflective of each of the four seasons.
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| Work in progress: a mandala representing Spring. 36” x 36” |
This group collaboration project came home with me. The piece is approximately 36” x 36”. I have backed it with a tear-away stabilizer and am in the process of auditioning threads in preparation for free-motion machine appliqué.
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| Auditioning threads for free-motion appliqué. |
The seasons in collage
Other workshop groups created collages representing the Summer, Fall, and Winter seasons.
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| Textile collage: Summer |
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| Textile collage: Fall |
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| Textile collage: Winter |
For now, I’m undecided about whether our piece should be quilted or not. I’m sure, however, the piece will speak to me at some point to tell me what it needs/wants.
