Just a few final touches to make it strong when suspended.
There will be a surprise at the bottom. Will be seen later when installed.
Length 3m, diameter at top 1.5m.
Crocheted from yarn made from used plastic shopping bags. Kindly donated by women from around the world.
Yes, I think I think it's finished.
Let me introduce Harry.
My little canine friend who follows me around like a shadow. He belongs to my elderly friend, Diana. She is now in a nursing home so Harry stays with me and we visit Diana every week so that she can cuddle Harry. All the residents at the nursing home know Harry and love him. Diana and I have discussed ways of smuggling Harry in at night so that he can sleep on her bed with her. One idea was to dress him up like an old lady in a nightie ....... like the big bad wolf.
Harry helping me finish the Rubbish Vortex:
He is also known as Hairy Harry Harcourt (who had a haircut).
The excitement is growing.
The Rubbish Vortex and other bits and pieces will be exhibited in collaboration with with The Institute for Figuring in April.
Whilst working madly to finish everything I have been looking for accommodation on the internet. Whooooeeeee............ NY is expensive. It seems I can only afford a teeny box and even that will cost me an arm and a leg. If anyone has any information or recommendations as to where to stay I would be grateful.
The exhibition will be at New York University, on Broadway. Opening night is April 5th. I'll post more information as I get it and I sincerely hope some of you locals will come and say hello.
I'm keen to go thrift shopping and flea marketing too........ any info?
Thanks
Experimentation plays a big part in making pieces for me. I have so much discarded and unfinished work. Pieces of ideas and unsatisfactory paths. I have no qualms about cutting, ripping or rearranging........ruthless, really.
I'm not capable of following the straight path. Wandering off in all directions is my path.
These embroideries were done some time ago and have been languishing in a box. I cut up an old threadbare teatowel from my huge collection of Op-Shop textiles and embroidered the motifs using preloved cotton embroidery floss. The motifs are an artist's (unknown) interpretation of Australian Aborigines X-ray paintings. The paintings can be found on rocks and in caves. The paints are made from ochre and other beautiful earth pigments. I love the digestive system and other organs. The 2-D quality of the eyes is interesting too. Like many other projects they need some precious time to be completed. Later!
Kangaroo Embroidery. Pre-loved embroidery floss and linen teatowel.
Emu
Goana
Goana (detail)
I took "The Rubbish Vortex" apart yesterday and wore it as a giant wig for a while. It will be assembled again today.
Currently approx. 2.5m long, 1.5m in diameter at top. There will be more fire-coral at the bottom when finished. The photos don't show how the vortex increases in diameter at the top. This is apparent when suspended.
That's a lot-a plastic bags!
When walking along the high-tide mark on the beach, I find plastic detritus swept out of the stormwater drain or washed up from the ocean. It's everywhere. Why so many toothbrushes and cigarette lighters?
These little bits will be incorporated into The Rubbish Vortex. Not sure how yet.
The ball of plastic yarn took me about 6 hours to make. It's the size of a small soccer ball....... that's a lot of plasic bags. I love the feeling of having lots of yarn to crochet. I plonk myself down and wriggle the fingers around entering into a peaceful crochet bliss. All the time saying...... "when I finish this bit I'll take another sip of tea". Hours later, the tea is cold but the Rubbish Vortex has grown.
It's now 2.5m long and it's beginning to get heavy too! I carry it over my shoulder, take it into the garden and look at it for a while, drinking a newly made cup of tea.
Visit the The IFF Flickr photos of the crochet coral reef in Chicago.
Progress on The Rubbish Vortex is gathering speed. Ideas are madly swirling in my mind (many are being discarded for this project but can be used for others). I'm crocheting, sketching, unravelling, trimming, and making yarn madly.
From the sketchbook.
Little red frou-frou's.
Could be turned into a caterpillar....... mmmmmmhhh!
Coral bleaching.
To do: refine the colour transitions/wire?
Studies of different shapes.
I love nodules.
It's running away!
How am I going to transport it in my hand luggage on the flight to LA?
Soooooo busy making............. I can't find the right words. I sit to write and can't find the words to describe what I'm doing and yet so keen to show and tell.
Last night I went to sleep thinking about the Rubbish Vortex........ I came up with some new refinements of the design and I can't wait to start. Feel like a goose getting so excited about making things and yet know if I didn't make things I'd go mad (madder). One day I will be found fused to and part of one of my objects. Blissfully lost in a cloud of creating, smelling the flowers and desparately trying to keep up with the real world.
I look around me and see inspiration everywhere........ life is good!
I see connections in branching patterns everywhere. My circulatory sytem too!
The making of these woolly gems is similar to sketching. I experiment with colour combinations and shapes. These discoveries can be used in the Crochet Sea Creatures series.
What can I say?
I found some words.
The plasic bags are arriving from around the world. Thanks all. I've been making yarn from them and can't wait to start making more sea creatures. The colours sing!
The Rubbish Vortex is growing............ this project is so exciting I can feel my heart squeezing with delight.
The bottom section of the Rubbish Vortex.
It will be a hanging piece (if I can work out how to suspend it).
Diane Haithman from the LA Times wrote an article about the Wertheim sisters from the IFF, and the crochet coral reef. Wow, those two ladies are impressive! The Rubbish Vortex also got a mention. Check it out here.
