52 Ways to Look at the River, update 8

52 Ways to Look at the River, weeks 1 - 52

I've made it to the finish line!  Here are all 52 panels for my self-directed project, 52 Ways to Look at the River.  Every week for a year, without fail, I've made a trip to the Susquehanna River, taken a photo, then created a fiber panel based on the image. The panels are 6" x 12", wool and silk with a few other materials, needlefelted and stitched. The project ran from the summer solstice 2015 to solstice 2016.

The are shown here pinned up on a design board in sequential order, left to right, top to bottom.  My next step is to assemble them permanently into a quilt or quilts. I am currently experimenting with placement and attachment methods.

I started out with a commitment to the basic format and the weekly adventure, but left the rest to develop as time went along.  As you can see, the first pieces were loose and abstract, but they quickly evolved into increasingly realistic representations.  This is very evident in the final four:

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 49

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 50

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 51

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 52

So, what have I learned from this adventure?

* A project of this size and scope is a very worthwhile endeavor.  I underestimated how much time and mental energy this project would take, but it was still worth it.

* I have a strong work ethic (I already knew this!)

* My initial premise, that the Susquehanna is beautiful in every season and from all different vantage points, proved to be true. I visited a few spots more than once, and saw something new every time.

* I benefited personally from building an improved mental map of how all the overlooks, bridges, dams, and etc, in and around Lancaster and York counties fit together.

* I also built up mad needlefelting skills.  Many weeks I picked my inspiration photo, then completely panicked on how to proceed.....the key was to just dive in and and try things. There were no do-overs.

* Once again I am very grateful to the Lancaster County Conservancy, the Susquehanna Gateway Heritage organization, and everyone else who works to procure and preserve access to the river.

What's next?

* First and foremost, I want to permanently assemble the panels.

* I want to investigate what it would take to turn the project into a book.  I am also considering making prints of the panels available.  Both of these ventures are new for me, and will require exploration.

* I have several large quilts that have languished while my attention was on the river, and I'm going to take the time to finish them.

* I have a complete website re-build in the works, and want to finish that up as well.

* I have two or three excellent ideas for another long-term project.  I'm going to take the time to wrap up the loose ends mentioned above, and to do some experimenting with the new concepts, before committing. I knew going into 52 Ways to Look at the River that I was facing a relatively quiet year, but the year ahead is more complex and I want to plan realistically.

You can track back the project to date by clicking on the "52 Ways" tab in the top header, or by clicking here.

You can continue to follow all my fiberart and art quilt adventures on your platform of choice:
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As always, thanks for reading and commenting. 

Raccoon and Apple acceptance for Connected by Stitch

Raccoon and Apple

 I am pleased and honored to announce that Raccoon and Apple has been accepted for the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) regional exhibit, Connected by Stitch.

Raccoon and Apple,detail 1

 The exhibit will be at The Gallery at Penn College Williamsport, PA from October 22-December 8, 2016. The jurist is Joshua R. Willis.  There's an opening reception on the afternoon of the 22nd that I plan on attending. It promises to be an outstanding show.

Raccoon and Apple,detail 2

 Raccoon and Apple is part of my ongoing series, Flora and Fauna, where I combine cyanotype prints of the skulls of native wildlife with vintage textiles and handpainted fabrics to create works that speak to their observed and unobserved presence in our environment

Raccoon and Apple,detail 3

Peace and Quiet by the Susquehanna

I took my bike and hit the Northwest River Trail again, this time starting at Decatur St., in search of some peace and quiet.  The Susquehanna did not disappoint. 

There were lots of phenology changes since last week. The elderberries were blooming.

As were the tawny daylilies.

These are common in semi-wild places, and sometimes disparaged as "ditch lilies" but I have always loved them.

And the milkweed has begun blooming!  It's an important plant in the monarch butterfly life cycle, and many types of insects are drawn to the blossoms.

I spotted three that were new-to-me, including this 14 spotted lady beetle:

This soldier beetle:

Check out the legs:

And this gorgeous little grape plume moth:

Relaxed and refreshed, I captured this view  of an island and chose it as my inspiration image for week 51 of my self-directed project, 52 Ways to Look at the River.

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 51 image

I kept things simple and serene in the resultant fiber art panel.  The panel is 6" x 12", wool, silk and mylar, needlefelted and stitched.

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 51 panel

It's hard to believe this project is coming to an end....It's been a big part of my life for the past year.  After I make the final panel next week, I will be assembling the panels into art quilts.

If you are new here, you can track back the project by using the 52 Ways tab in the top header, or by clicking here. And you can follow along for the rest of it on your platform of choice:
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So many of you have been engaged in this journey with me, and I greatly appreciate all your comments and support!

Shocks Mill Bridge on the Susquehanna

Finally! The weather improved, and on a sunny afternoon I took my bike and hit the Northwest River Trail just outside of Marietta, PA.

There was plenty to observe and appreciate along the trail.  There's a lot of moisture in the ground from a very wet spring, and now that the sun has come out the plant life is exploding.  These fox grape tendrils were growing with great vigor.

The air was sweet and redolent with the scent of honeysuckle. I stopped to taste the nectar from a few blossoms.

Jewelweed was everywhere.  The leaves can be crushed and the juice applied as a trail remedy for an encounter with stinging nettles.

Here's a macro shot of a wineberry blossom and a small sweat bee busy pollinating. I am very much looking forward to the berries ripening.

There were drifts of fluff on the ground from the eastern cottonwood trees.

My goal was the section of trail where it meets the river at the Schocks Mill Bridge, in order to take pictures for my almost-completed, self-directed project, 52 Ways to Look at the River.  (You can track back the posts about the project by clicking on the 52 Ways tab in the top header, or click here.)

 The Susquehanna was running very high and fast due to all the recent rains.

 I'd been here before, way back in week 18 when the autumn leaves were just beginning to turn colors.

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 18 panel

This time I wanted to focus on the hybrid nature of the architecture.  The stone arch railroad bridge was originally built in 1905. In July of 1972, in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes, six center spans collapsed into the river. With Federal aid they were replaced by nine new concrete piers and steel girder spans.  .

The old sections of the bridge have bits of vegetation growing in the cracks.

I love the textures and colors revealed by the telephoto lens.

It's a cool bridge and a unique structure from any angle.

I chose this view as my inspiration image for week 50:

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 50 image

And here's the fiberart panel I made in response. The panel is 6" x 12", wool and silk, needlefelted, printed, painted, and stitched.

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 50 panel

Two more weeks to go, and then I will begin assembling the panels into artquilts.  You can follow along with each week's reveal on your platform of choice:
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As always, thanks for reading and commenting.

The Susquehanna at Wrightsville PA

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From this week's vantage point in Wrightsville, PA, I looked to the left and saw the modern Rt. 30 span across the Susquehanna.

I looked straight across and saw glimpses of the town of Columbia.  The water tower with a colorful sign is at the tourist site, The Turkey Hill Experience.

Before the site was renovated, I visited the crumbling ruins of the former silk mill, and used imagery from my visits in my three Silk Mill artquilts.  Here is Silk Mill #3.

Silk Mill #3

I looked to the right and saw the Veterans Memorial Bridge, a continuing source of inspiration and imagery in my artwork.

I took a few minutes to look down and see what was growing wild along the riverbank.  I was rewarded with finding this false indigo.

The flowers are complex and beautiful under the macro lens.

I also found a yellow flag iris.

And a dizzying array of chamomile in full bloom.

My real reason for the trip was to train my telephoto lens on a portion of this landscape I haven't focused on before.  Next to the Veterans Memorial Bridge are a series of old bridge piers that were used in several previous historic bridge structures.  It's an interesting history; you can read about it here.  Over time the piers have accumulated the trappings of small islands, with accumulated soil and vegetation.

I chose this view as my week 49 inspiration image for my 52 Ways to Look at the River project.  If you are new here, you can see a recap of the project in this previous post, or click the "52 Weeks" tab at the top to track back all the posts.

52 Ways to Look at the River, Week 49 image,

This was one of my more detailed and time consuming panels to make, but I am very happy with how it turned out!

52 Ways to Look at the River, Week 49 panel

Only 4 more weeks to go until I have all 52 panels, and then I will assemble them into art quilts.
 You can follow along with each week's reveal on your platform of choice:
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As always, thanks for reading and commenting.

52 Ways to Look at the River, update 7

52 Ways to Look at the River, weeks 1 - 48

  I have completed week 48 in my year long, self directed project, 52 Ways to Look at the River, and am coming down the home stretch.  Every week I travel to a locale along the Susquehanna River and take a picture. I use the image as the inspiration for a fiber art panel.  The panels are 6" x 12", and are  needlefelted with wool and silk, with added detailing by stitch and applique. In the photo above the 48 to date are pinned up on a foam board.  When I have all 52 finished I will begin to assemble them into several quilts. I'm still experimenting with how best to arrange them.

Below are the panels I have made since the last update.  Most of them have warranted their own blog post, which you can track back to by clicking on the "52 Weeks" tab in the top header.

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 41

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 42

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 43

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 44

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 45

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 46

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 47

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 48

I can't emphasize enough how glad I am I embarked on this project. I've honed my design and construction skills in this format. I've had the pleasure of seeing the Susquehanna each week in a different locale and a wide variety of weather conditions.  Week by week I've built up a body of vignettes  that I am looking forward to combining and integrating. And I've modeled patience and discipline in my artistic practice.

Perhaps you've had this experience: You go on an extended trip or long-anticipated vacation, and immerse yourself in the culture and daily rhythms of your exotic locale. You love everything about it, and entertain fantasies of blowing up your "real" life and making the move permanent.  And then, on the last day or so, you realize that you are actually ready to go home.  That to me is the sign of a successful vacation, and it's akin to where I'm at with this project. I'm loving it, but I'll be ready to wrap it up and make room for what comes next.

It's wide open as to where I'm going for the final 4 photo shoots. On a road trip? To a familiar spot to look at it with a fresh perspective?  You can follow along with each week's reveal on your platform of choice:
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As always, thanks for reading and commenting.