A little of this and a little of that – in one big stew for you this week.
First, a story…
The first year my husband and I were married, we moved from one coast to the other and I took a drawing class at the local community college to get my bearings in a new state and town. In class, I became friends with a woman who was then probably about the age I am now. She was very warm and smart and, since she loved art as much as I did, we had much to talk about. She had a relatively thick accent and before long shared with me that when she was a child, she and her family had escaped from the Nazi invasion of Ukraine.
Aldona’s Amber
The school year ended and soon after so did my husband’s internship. As we prepared to move back across the country, Aldona gave me this amber necklace in parting. It was a special gesture of friendship and all the more meaningful as she said it had come from her homeland. It was a piece of her.
Over the last couple of weeks, as I’ve anxiously watched Russia’s horrific invasion of Ukraine, her gift has taken on even deeper meaning. I look at the hardened gems of amber in this necklace and think what an apt and sadly beautiful metaphor it is for the strength, resilience and resolve the people of Ukraine are exhibiting in the face of Putin’s threat to their sovereignty and their lives. I never dreamt this necklace would carry such significance beyond the memory of a friend from a specific time and place, but it certainly does.
❖
Rooted In Dreams ©2022 Elizabeth Fram, Stitched and clamped-resist dye with Embroidery on silk, 16 x 12 inches
On a less somber note:
Except for framing, the piece I’ve been working on for the past 8 weeks is now complete. Once the portrait was finished, I decided to add the “x” purely as a design solution, not with any particular meaning in mind. It grounds the head so that it doesn’t appear to be just floating in space — an effect that had been amplified by the shibori-dyed background. ‘Head in the clouds’ was my working title for much of the process as it described her translucence as she took form. But now, with the added element of the “x”, Rooted in Dreams seems more appropriate.
Rooted In Dreams, detail ©2022 Elizabeth Fram
Shopping Tip:
I recently learned about Swanson’s Fabrics in Turners Falls, MA from artist Cari Clement. It’s the kind of place anyone who works with textiles should know about. The shop’s mission is to offer affordable materials and sewing supplies while simultaneously aiding/encouraging sewing enthusiasts to release (or at least reduce) their overflowing stashes. With the added bonus of keeping all that extra fabric out of the landfill, Swanson’s is the definition of a win-win-win enterprise.
And finally…
With Daylight Savings starting this weekend, along with the recent spate of sap-running days, Winter has begun the first verses of its swan song. But before it fully releases its grasp (another 8-15″ possible on Saturday!), immerse yourself in a final taste of snow and ice at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod’s online exhibit “Winter Magic”. My piece Floe is included.
Floe, detail ©2015 Elizabeth Fram, Dye, Paint and Embroidery on Silk, 12 x 12 inches. Inspired by the pared down beauty of the winter landscape, this and its companion piece ,”Crystallized”, were meant to portray the essence of the season rather than an actual place. Read about the genesis of their creation in the post February’s Self-Restraint.
The following haiku, from another long-ago post on these two wintery pieces, bears repeating
Seamstress
Long needles of ice
Stitch the open water up
On a winter pond.
©2012 Abigail M. Parker of A Haiku Each Day
Your posts are always a breath of fresh air from this tumultous world we live in. Thank you.
Thank you Leonard – that means more than you can guess. All the best.
Betsy,
Your writings and photos of your work bring such peace, thank you for sharing. Rooted in dreams is beautiful! I just love the story of your friend from long ago and the fact that you have the beautiful amber necklace to remember her and to reflect with prayer and love on the people of Ukraine.
We do love in a very hard time now, with turmoil coming from many directions. Being able to take a break to enjoy art is such a gift. Thank you again Betsy.
Thank you Pam! I’m so glad to know this struck a chord with you and I agree, art can be solace in tough times. Thanks for reading…
Loving your posts, as I always do
I’m in Greenfield right now which is right next to Turners Falls. If you ever want to come down to go to the fabric store, we have a very sweet little house you could spend the night in
Thanks Hasso!
How cool is that? Such a nice offer – let me know if you ever have time to check out Swanson’s – sounds like something of a treasure trove.
The X that you added to your newest portrait is a stroke of genius! I watched the piece in its earlier stages and wondered how you would ever manage to differentiate the figure from the back ground. Well the X did the trick—beautifully. The figure is just slightly elusive, but interacts beautifully with the background. The hair is magical!! Beautiful piece, Betsy.
You know how much I value your input Judy, so this means a ton! It often seems like our work is largely a series of chances – and whether or not we’re willing to take them.
Your work always pulls at my heart. This lovely woman, I could imagine as your “younger” Ukrainian friend. I too am angered and saddened by what is happening there. It also hits close to home. My nephew and his Ukrainian wife and family are trying to leave. I worry, as we haven’t heard anything for the past week and a half. I think of them every day.
Beautiful work!
Oh Donna, I can’t imagine the worry. I hope you hear soon that your family is safely out of harm’s way. It’s a lot to ask, but please let me know. With very best wishes…