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Reflections, Eli and the whooshing sound of time disappearing

I am delighted to report that I will have a quilt in this year’s Dinner@8 exhibit, Reflections, which will debut at International Quilt Festival, Houston, in October 2014. I’m honored and humbled to be in such company as the other artists included, many of whom I know and am happy to call friend.

Eli, Cross Country 2014 (c) SarahAnnSmith.com

Eli, Cross Country 2014
(c) SarahAnnSmith.com

This year’s challenge was to make a 24″ wide by 60″ long art quilt to the theme of Reflections.  Curators Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison wrote:

A mirror image. A response to a thought or word. A memory. What glints back at us as we gaze upon the water. The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.  What will your reflection reveal about you?

For more information, visit their website, here.

For once in my life, I decided not to be literal.  Instead I thought about our sons.  Four years ago, for one of these exhibits, I made a portrait of Joshua playing his guitar.  Now, at the same age, I wanted to portray Eli, who is an honor student and star athlete.  Though his “first” sport is wrestling, it doesn’t really play well with a long and narrow format!  BUT, running does.  So I chose cross country season!

For my entry, I wrote something along these lines:  When I reflect on how fast time has passed by, I am nearly paralyzed.  Like me, Eli prefers to “Do,” not ponder.   At sixteen, he is literally and figuratively running headlong into his future.

For this piece I dyed the red fabrics (same batch as those used for the amaryllis quilt–clever how I managed that one, eh?) and some of the ground and foliage fabrics.  The remainder are commercial batiks.  As usual, I have quilted it very closely.  I hope to share more details with you on that.  For now, here’s a detail photo.

Detail, Eli, Cross Country 2013. (C) 2014 SarahAnnSmith.com

Detail, Eli, Cross Country 2013.
(C) 2014 SarahAnnSmith.com

 

7 Responses to “Reflections, Eli and the whooshing sound of time disappearing”

  1. Claudia Says:

    I hope your boys know how honored they should be to have you immortalize them in fabric. I hear the groans already.

  2. Dorothy Karman Says:

    Sarah I love your work and think that you are just so talented. You clever, clever you!

  3. Heidi Says:

    amazing and wonderful piece ! love it !

  4. Jan Bain Says:

    Congratulations Sarah, really superb art. Hope Eli isn’t too embarrassed at being on show!

  5. Susan Dunne-Lederhaas Says:

    Super cool beans!

  6. Fitzy Says:

    In LOVE. Beautiful job Sarah.

  7. Ilana Says:

    Absolutely wonderful!