Emergence

As we start to shed our winter skins, I am struck by how much winter affects our posture and body language, in addition to our wardrobes. There is something about knitted hats, especially on men, that I am starting to like and might actually miss when the weather gets warmer. 

I am thinking also about the concept of emergence, defined in Wikipedia as "the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions." I am picturing embroideries of men emerging from soft watercolor strokes. As my first experiment in this direction, I made a watercolor drawing of a hat, under which I embroidered the outlines of a man in "shlumpy" dress (see below). I may add some seed stitches to the hat; I also hope to add more men. I am not sure if the men will come together in a larger piece or not, or what they are going to say to me (or to each other?). But I feel compelled to create some new imagery right now.

Spring seems to bring a renewed energy for going out of the house, outside of the norm, outside of ourselves and meeting new people. Emergence...I wonder what spring will bring for me in my personal and artistic life....

When the Shoe Doesn't Fit

I've tried on and run in many pairs of sneakers, just as I've tried out many men. I am not sure in which area I have done more research.

"When the Shoe Doesn't Fit," finished piece at right, says:
"My slow accumulation of boyfriends, like pairs of running sneakers. Some hurt and were hardly worn. I hoped some would mold, magically, to my feet. Others, I ran in blissfully. I held on as long as they held up. Now, after years of waiting for the other shoe to drop, I know to try on many pairs until I find one I won't want to take off. I know when to say no, even if it hurts. And I am learning how to slow down."

As for learning to slow down, I am picking up speed and mileage.

The drawings at left, my study for the finished piece at right, are from an embroidery class I taught at Etsy Labs in Brooklyn last spring. After my students practiced French knots (see right-hand image), which require small, tight movements, there were sighs of frustration. To loosen up, I had my students do a continuous line drawing of one of my sneakers. This exercise is like a game where you continue drawing and do not pick up your pen until I say stop. I participated, too, and later went home and added more sneakers.

To sign up for an embroidery class: Etsy at 3rd Ward in Bushwick, Brooklyn:
http://www.3rdward.com/classes/spring/etsyward see Extraordinary Embroidery.
Next one is Saturday, April 11, 12noon-3pm.