Artisan Search 2011
Collage and Sssemblage Item # 2
Root of all Evil
Overall view of the piece when the case is opened. Due to the reflection ofthe plexiglass in the box, the photo with the box closed was not submitted – it it is needed I can supply one.
Besides making my mixed media textile art I love to dabble in beading – especially bead embroidery. it is kind of like crazy quilting with beads and "stuff." This piece is part of what I call wall jewelry – art collage and assemblages with original wearable art pieces that can be displayed on the wil as part of the art and is designed in such a way that it can be removed for wearing and still leave the art piece for the wall in its absence. Why hide beautiful wearables insid a box where no on can ever see or enjoy except on special occassions.
This piece iconsists of a hand built hinged shadow box finished in a paper mache technique and painted, antiqued and highlighted in copper to accent the piece. The piece incorporates a neckpiece and earrings displayed on special hand cut and overed holders. The pieces are original designs executed with complex bead woven stitches and bead embroidery with each bead being SEWN on one bead at a time. The stitches include peyote, cabachons, ladder stitch, branching, picot, figure eight weaving and macrame. The stones I chose were those of turquoise in various shapes and sizes. Glass beads and copper findings add texture and interest. Because I used in the title, The Root of all Evil I chose to add some money – penning – also aged to give that beautiful and complimentary green verdigris patina.
The neckpiece is hung around a found copper plumbing fixture and drapes over the found branch (shoulders) and onto a central fabric covered central panel. They all rest on a hand cut bodice shaped and paper mache covered, painted, antiqued and patinaed backdrop. The earrings hang below them on a horizontal rectangle covered in paper.
From the neckpiece (top portion of the copper plumbing fixture, is the head. It was sculpted from several long pieces of tie wire and had extensions with leaf shapes for hair. The wired head piece is covered with with woven jute and then overlaid randomly with cheesecloth, paper mache and paper. It is left natural while the leaves are painted verdigris green and drybrussed with metallic copper. This whole piece was then secured tightly at the lower chin to for a neck that fit snugly into the top portion of the plumbing fixture.