Thursday, April 19, 2012

working on a control burn...














No I am not in any trouble physically ....the control burn goes back to my inspiration of the control burn I witnesses here At Dawes Arboretum a couple of weeks ago with Laura Appleman. This is a miraculous event to see in person and to know they are renewing the growth and development of the the prairie grasses on the back landscape in the arboretum. I have had a first layer of reds and yellows in a free style impressionistic approach to dyes. Today I painstakingly began hand painting details of dried grasses and remnants of past growth seasons in 2011. This particular panel is about 6 or 7 feet long. Each fiber installation is my personal reflection of my time spent here at Dawes Arboretum, I have been so privileged to work here as a guardian of the trees. I will paint in the the subtle sky patterns tomorrow.

I met with Laura and we are making plans to make the first installation in the next two weeks in large trees outside the educational studio space. I am working on the leather dye straps to tie through the variety of grommets...that is the plan so let us see how it goes.

Today I had the Glass Doctor replace my windshield in about one hour today while I worked at Dawes. I found the whole event to be very interesting .... and now I am relieved to know that the little Geo will ride the roads safely here in Licking county. I get a rock strike during my drive home on Saturday ...oh well Life happens.

I hope you enjoy the photos and feel free to comment on the newest color parfaits...intense deep vibrations still steaming in the back seat of my car. All artists use their cars to set the dyes in their cars...LOL! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

p.s. Thank you Ken for delivering pizza to Dawes so I could stay and paint until after 8 pm! Date night at Dawes!

5 comments:

  1. What wonderful dyed fabrics you are creating. I just love it! It inspires me!

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    1. Yvonne you inspire me to reach and grow more! Have a great weekend! Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

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  2. I love to hear about the preservation of prairie grasses - I had the pleasure of visiting a prairie preserve in Illinois a couple of years ago - grasses, birds, butterflies - simple beauty

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  3. What beautiful, heartfelt work you are doing! Wonderful!

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