In the Studio…

Today I added a conceptual piece~Blue Moods~ to the Transitions series in the Art Gallery. During the transitions we face in life, there are processes that people can experience as the old ways and situations give way to the new.

For example, as my children grew-up, graduated from high school, and left for college, daily life around our house changed dramatically. While some of the changes were exciting and something new to look forward to, I still experienced times of feeling a bit sad and longing for some of the earlier family times.

Transitions #2: Blue Moods, 13"x13", rayon on cotton. © 2014 Joni Beach.
Transitions #2: Blue Moods, 13″x13″, rayon on cotton. © 2014 Joni Beach.

So in Transitions #2, this piece entitled Blue Moods depicts the mixed feelings I have felt at times during transitions in life~~a bit sad, or blue, sometimes a bit angry (the color orange), but always still with hints of hope that in the end things will work out (the color yellow)…

Gradually the confusion (see Transitions #1: Confusion), the mixed feelings as depicted in Blue Moods, give way and transition into a new order and form…

our Lifeweavings.

New Art~ Lifeweaving #3

Lifeweaving #3: 9 Stages of Life has been in process for a long time and finally it is the key piece in an exhibit, Lifeweavings: A Creative Journey! 

It was so exciting to finish this piece because it has so many layers of meaning for me. Inspired by books by Joan Anderson (A Walk on the Beach and others) and Joan Erickson’s 9th stage of life, this is the 3rd Lifeweaving in a series entitled, Transitions.

Lifeweaving #3: 9 Stages of Life,  59" x 45", rayon and metallic on cotton. Woven fabric strips, machine and free-motion quilting. (c) 2014 Joni Beach. ($2400)
Lifeweaving #3: 9 Stages of Life, 59″ x 45″, rayon and metallic on cotton. Woven fabric strips, machine and free-motion quilting. (c) 2014 Joni Beach.

In earlier posts, you have seen its beginnings when I first wove the strips of fabric together. Recently the quilting to hold it all together was completed. I decided to use a small zigzag to join the strips and stabilize the piece. Because of the raw edges I found a double row of stitching worked much better. 

When it came time to quilt more lines of color through each section, I had to quilt sideways from left to right in order to  write the words using free-motion. Adding the words as quilted line provided an additional layer of meaning…

The words are the strengths and traits people can gain at each stage of life, from infancy through very old adulthood. For example, in stage 1 , trust and hope. It was interesting how in the process of creating, I had time to consider each stage, my experiences, and what I feel I’ve gain along the way through-out my life…Where am I located on the wall hanging? In the middle? Near the top? At the bottom?

People at the exhibit’s opening on Friday enjoyed viewing Lifeweavings #3 and had fun trying to find the words that were in each section. It will be on exhibit through March 31st and available at Eucalyptus Massage Center Gallery. Please visit my website Art Gallery to view other pieces in the Transitions series!

Related Posts:

Thursday in the Studio–The Final Stages (jonibeach.com)

Life Transitions and Life Completion: Joan Erikson’s 9th Stage of Pyschosocial Development  (lifetransitionslifecompletion.blogspot.com)

Joan Anderson–A Walk on the Beach  (joanandersononline.com)

Exhibit~Lifeweavings: A Creative Journey

One of my goals has been accomplished! On Friday evening was the opening of my first solo exhibit, Lifeweavings: A Creative Journey!

DSC02244
“Southwestern Potsand “The Present Through the Past (Roman Aqueduct, Segovia)” 2014/ Visions of Spain series.

It was like a dream experience to see the artwork hung in a different setting than the studio and to talk with the people who were there during the town’s ArtWalk. For the past few months I had been very busy getting new works finished. I am adding each of these to the Art Gallery on my website and posting their story here on the blog!

The exhibit will run from February–March 31st! I invite you to visit if you can…

For gallery hours, location and information on available pieces please contact the Eucalyptus Massage Center Gallery website. (click on gallery name here, and link is also below)

Lifeweaving #3: 9 Stages of Life
Lifeweaving #3: 9 Stages of Life

Lifeweavings: A Creative Journey

by Joni Beach

Feb. 7th–March 31st, 2014

Eucalyptus Massage Center Gallery