Ironville Ramble

Indian Pipe plant

I’m having a great year so far for seeing natural wonders I’ve only read about previously.  Today I saw the elusive Indian Pipe, aka Corpse Plant, aka Ghost Plant, Monotropa uniflora.  It’s not a fungus, as it may appear at first sight, but a heterotrophic, or non-photosynthetic flowering plant in the same family as blueberries.  It’s parasitic on particular fungi, and these fungi are mycorrhizal with photosynthetic trees.  A fascinating life cycle, and a very handsomely marked plant.  There were several clumps of them:

Corpse plant, Monotropa uniflora

We had a great ramble around the countryside today, without having to drive anywhere first.  We are fortunate that the area around our hamlet, Ironville, has lots of back roads and small parks to explore.  June is busting out all over, and there were lots of common and uncommon wonders to behold.  The milkweed is starting to bloom, and attract bees:

Milkweed blossom

The last of the  wild white mulberries were eagerly eaten and savored:

White mulberries

The wild wineberry crop looks promising.  They have a distinctive sticky calyx, which will soon open and disclose the berries.  These are one my favorites, and I’ll need to check back soon:


Wild wineberries

The wild blackberries are also coming along, but none were ripe enough quite yet:

Wild blackberries

But we hit the jackpot with the wild black raspberries.  There were plenty-- I almost had my fill, if such a thing is possible--and there are more coming.

Wild black raspberries

One of the neighbors has a small menagerie on their property, and they allow visitors to say hello to the animals.  There’s a nice variety of poultry, a few sheep, and a goat with a bit of an attitude:

The also have a beautiful little miniature horse, who thought that surely I must have a carrot on me.  (Note to self--next time, carry carrots.)

Further along along the road is Danny’s abode.  I’ve written about Danny before.  He was abandoned some years ago, then rescued and provided with a shed and a bit of land to roam about.  His shed sports this sign, which is good advice for all of us fortunate enough to have food, water, and shelter:

Today, someone passing had provided apple and carrot treats for Danny, which he was happily and greedily devouring, with a wary eye on me lest I should try and share it.  Danny has a pretty good gig.

Danny the sheep

Along the verge we spotted wild yarrow:

Wild yarrow

And lots of chicory plants in bloom; this one attracted a small bee:

Chicory flower

Here’s a mayapple.  It’s a spring ephemeral, so the foliage is fading, and the “apple” is ripening. 

Mayapple leaf and fruit

I used a cyanotype print of a mayapple leaf in my Deer and Mayapple art quilt:

"Deer and Mayapple"

We saw lots of tall blue lettuce, about 5 feet high at this point and setting flower buds:

Tall Blue Lettuce leaves and flower buds

This is another plant that has found its way into my artwork, in my Tall Blue Lettuce quilt.  I have a weak spot for anything with big leaves:

"Tall Blue Lettuce"

I got a great shot of what appeared to be an unusual bee (all photos enlarge when clicked).  It’s actually a syrphid fly, aka hover fly, aka bee mimic.  The distinguishing features are the single pair of wings (bees have two), the truncated antenna, and the lack of pollen pouches.  It’s a fine example of Batesian mimicry:

Syrphid fly

The ubiquitous tawny daylilies were in full bloom:

Tawny daylily

As was the mullein, Verbascum thapsus, with its tall yellow flower spikes borne on second-year plants:

Mullein flowers

So many wonders on a six mile walk near home!  You know it’s been a good morning when your hands are stained with wild berry juice:

Images 2012 Opening Reception

I drove up to State College, PA  to attend the opening reception of Images 2012, the juried exhibition of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and pose for the obligatory photo of me with my work, Silk Mill #1.  It’s the first in this series, and the first time it’s being exhibited, so that grin on my face reflects my joy and appreciation at participating once again in this fine event.  Images, a juried mid-Atlantic regional exhibition for fine art and fine craft, was established by the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in 1989 as a complement to its nationally recognized outdoor Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, and has evolved into a well-respected exhibition for both emerging and established artists.

The exhibit is held in the Robeson Gallery, a spacious and gracious venue, and it’s always interesting to see how the staff arranges the display to fit the accepted work.  This year many of the fiber pieces were grouped together on a long wall.  From right to left, that’s my Silk Mill #1, Light and Shadow by Mary Lou Pepe, Stills From A Life 38 by Dominie Nash, then Highline Beeches and FLP: Improvisational Moment with Scarves, both wool tapestries by Carol Chave.

Here’s a better view of Stills From a Life 38, and you can see the entire series here.  I’ve had the delight of seeing Dominie’s work in person several times before, and am always impressed with her design sense and mastery of the medium.

One of the great pleasures of attending an opening is discovering new-to-me art, and having the opportunity to meet other artists.  I was deeply drawn into the aerial landscapes of coal mine tailings by photographer Peter Stern.  We had an very interesting conversation where he shared a bit about his process--he pilots his own small plane at low altitudes, and holds the camera out over the edge of the cockpit to take the photographs.  Even more astonishing than the technique, however, is his ability to capture the light at just the right moment for dramatic impact.  In the course of conversation we also discovered a mutual admiration for the Susquehanna River and the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge that loom large in my personal artistic narrative.  Here’s Peter with three of his photographs; the small acrylic on the ledge is Striations #1 by Rodney Fulton.


I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting the lovely and talented Susan Parsonage, and viewing her three woodcut monotypes on display.  She achieves beautiful texture and patterning, and lively movement, with her updated version of this time honored craft.  Susan’s website is under construction, but I will be sure to update once I have her site address.  I‘m looking forward to taking an in depth online tour of her work.

Here’s a closer look at her Fathom, a color woodcut with chine colle.  Forgive the skew; I was trying to avoid excessive glare from the glass, and while the picture doesn’t do the work justice, I hope you can get an idea of how luscious it is.

Courtesy of my friend Anni Matsick - a wonderful illustrator - here are a few general shots of the gallery space.  I was so engrossed in looking at art and talking to artists that I neglected to take some, so thank you Anni!

More about the exhibit can be found at the Festival Banner Blog, including this recent post about the reception.  Lauren, the Festival intern who is providing content for the blog, did a brief interview of my at the reception.  You can watch it here:

Sue Reno interview on YouTube

CPFA also has a Facebook page that provides coverage of the outdoor Festival and related events coming up in July.
For even more  information, you can stop by this previous post where I link to my coverage of Images receptions in years past.  It’s always a good time!

Columbine Acceptance - In Full Bloom

Columbine

I am happy to share that my work, Columbine, has been accepted into the special exhibit “In Full Bloom”, which will debut at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX, November 1-4, and then travel to Cincinnati, OH and Long Beach, CA in 2013.

Columbine, detail 2

This was my first time applying to this exhibit, but it seemed like a good potential fit as much of my work is botanically based, and I am really thrilled to have been included.  Of all the entries, only 28 were chosen.

Columbine, detail 2

This quilt has four cyanotype panels on silk, and the patchwork is a mix of silks and cottons.  It's one of those that really needs to be seen in person, to catch the sheen of the silks and the texture of the stitching.

Here’s the blue columbine plant that was the inspiration for this quilt, as well as the source material for the cyanotype prints.  It arrived as a volunteer from points unknown in my asparagus bed years ago, and as it is happy there I let it be.  The timing is good, as it blooms when the asparagus is ready for picking, so I get to admire it up close and personal for weeks each spring.

Blue Columbine Plant

Skunk and Garlic Mustard Acceptance to Pushing the Limits

I am very happy to announce that my latest work, Skunk and Garlic Mustard, has been accepted into “Pushing the Limits 2012”, at the artspace Gallery in Richmond, VA.  Pushing the Limits is a biennial exhibition that aims to expand the definition of fiber work within contemporary art while providing a venue for established and emerging artists.The juror is Katie Shaw.  It opens on July 27 and runs through September 23rd, and will run in concurrence with shows by Heidi Field-Alvarez and Mary Buchanan (July/Aug) ,Santa DeHaven (Aug/Sept), Brigette Newbery (July/Aug) and the SAQA  “This is a Quilt!” show (Aug/Sept).

Skunk and Garlic Mustard

I made Skunk and Garlic Mustard, and the other works in my Flora and Fauna series, because of a love of the subject matter - the animals and plants I share my suburban Pennsylvania environment with - and a desire to express  the beauty I see in the glimpses I catch of their presence and their life cycles.  I find it a privilege to hold their skeleton remains in my hand, and marvel at the intricacies  of their construction, and their suitability for the life and diet of the animal.  They are not meant to be macabre, or induce squeamishness, but occasionally a viewer interprets them in that light, which is of course an interesting part of the conversation that art enables.  I recognize that they don’t always have the same initial appeal of the works in my botanical and architectural series, and while I don’t deplore that fact, it can make finding venues for display a bit problematic.  So I am double grateful for the opportunity to exhibit Skunk and Garlic Mustard in what promises to be an excellent show full of all kinds of wonders.

Skunk and Garlic Mustard, detail 1

If you missed it, my New Work post yesterday has more about the construction of this work, with bonus photographs.

Skunk and Garlic Mustard, detail 2

And as always, my sincere thanks for reading and commenting.  I try to respond individually to every comment, but if I somehow miss yours, please believe that I appreciate your input.

New Work - Skunk and Garlic Mustard

Skunk and Garlic Mustard

I am delighted to share with you my latest work, Skunk and Garlic Mustard.  It’s part of my Flora and Fauna series, where I fool around with the skulls of local wildlife, combine the images with prints of plants that have an association with the animal for me, and add a vintage textile.

Skunk and Garlic Mustard, detail 1

I take a lot of detailed macro images of the bones, and then pick some to process and turn into cyanotype images on fabric.

Skunk and Garlic Mustard, detail 2

I then make type of monoprint, a heliographic print, where I use the plant as a resist on painted fabric that is left in the sun to dry.  For this work I used garlic mustard, an invasive non-native that unfortunately grows rampantly in the Pennsylvania woodlands, and also in my garden.  I spend a good deal of time each spring uprooting it from my beds, fighting the good fight.   I also incorporated a really cool piece of vintage embroidery covered with  french knots, and an assortment of hand painted and commercial silks and cottons.  I kept the color palette very cool and understated, to better contrast with the prints.  I like the way the colors set the tone of the piece.

Skunk skull

I had the luxury with this one of working with the entire skunk skeleton, courtesy of my daughter, who found the dear departed soul under her dryer vent after a long and bitter winter and gifted me with all the interesting bits of it.

Skunk skull and jaw bones

These are some of the arrangements that didn’t make the final cut for the piece, but are too cool not to share.

Deconstructed skunk skeleton

Here’s an equally cool view of the helio print as it was drying. You can see how the leaves are shriveling in the sun and pulling away from the fabric, leaving their ghostly images.

Garlic mustard mono print, in progress

Working on this series is deeply satisfying for me.  It is simultaneously my homage to the wildlife I share my suburban environment with, the plants that I spend so much time trying to either nurture or eradicate, and the anonymous women who stitched the vintage textiles.  I hope you enjoy this latest effort as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve Hike

Mountain laurel flowers

I recently went on a lovely hike in the nearby Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve.  The timing was just right, as the mountain laurel was plentiful and in full bloom.

Green frog

It’s been a  wet spring, and the trail skirted a number of vernal pools, teeming with tadpoles.  Vernal pools, which will dry up in the heat of summer, are ideal for tadpoles as there are no predator fish present.  Ideally, the young frogs develop and find their way to the nearby stream before the pool evaporates.  This frog was keeping watch over one of the pools.

Skunk cabbage leaves

There were patches of lush skunk cabbage all about.  I was too late for the blooms but enjoyed them none the less.  I’m very fond of this plant--I have a weakness for anything with large, distinctive leaves--and previously featured it in my art quilt Skunk Cabbage and Possum:

"Skunk Cabbage and Possum"

Another, larger vernal pool brought the discovery of an immature snapping turtle:

Snapping turtle

Distinctive features are the wedge shaped head, the whip-like tail, and the ridged shell.  This one was about the size of a salad plate.

Snapping turtle

I found a patch of milkweed and spent some time turning over leaves looking for monarch butterfly eggs.  Milkweed and associated plants are the only hosts for the larvae.  I didn't spot any eggs; hopefully it’s just too early in the season, and not a further sign of the monarch’s decline.

Milkweed leaves

The plants themselves were hale and hearty and full of buds:

Milkweed buds

One of my sharp eyed hiking companions spotted this  American Toad, camouflaged in the underbrush:

American Toad

One of the things I admire about toads is their attitude.  They know they taste bad, and are not overly skittish.  (If you've ever watched an inexperienced cat or dog mouth a toad, you know what I mean.  They usually don’t try it twice.)  This one posed obligingly while we captured the lovely patterning on its back:

American toad patterning

It then grinned for a portrait:

American toad portrait

This may be the year of the toad here in the northeast.  I've seen more in my yard and out and about than I have for a long time.  Perhaps the mild winter and wet spring is just what they needed for a population surge.

Watt & Shand #9 Acceptance - Tactile Architecture 2012

Watt & Shand #9

I am thrilled to announce that Watt & Shand #9 has been accepted into Tactile Architecture 2012, a special exhibit that will debut at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX, Nov. 1 - 4, and then travel to the festivals in Cincinnati, OH and Long Beach, CA in 2013

Watt & Shand #9, detail 3

Of all the quilts submitted, only 26 were selected.  I am very honored to have my work included.

Watt & Shand #9, detail 2

You can read all about the inspiration for this series of works --the former Watt & Shand department store in Lancaster, PA, that was re-purposed into a hotel and convention center--on my website, and/or by clicking on the “Watt & Shand” tab at the top of the page and tracking back the works in progress and the places the quilts have traveled to. I little dreamed, when I first turned the corner on King St. several years ago,  and was mesmerized by the sight of the empty façade of the grand Beaux Arts building, how much my life would be enriched by following my muse. It’s been quite a ride!