Subtle in bright front lighting, dramatic when backlit, and interesting in between as well. These were my goals for this stitched paper quilt which incorporates some recognizable elements, like blocks and batting, in new ways. I love playing with light and translucency, especially in my paper-based artworks.
This piece was featured in a solo show I had at the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum in La Conner, WA, in the summer of 2023. I created it with the windows of the museum in mind, to take advantage of light coming through. I call a piece like this a paper quilt, as it’s construction is similar to making a quilt: squares first, then joining them into a composition.
Details
These photos show my construction process… I sewed each square independently with underlying imagery built from thin B&W paper prints and cotton quilt batting, each of which were sandwiched between layers of very thin paper.
Those big black blobs originally were a photo I took of raindrops on the sunroof of my car. I enlarged the images and enhanced the contrast to create these organic forms. I am constantly taking photos of imagery and textures that might end up in a piece of art like this one.
The finished paper squares were carefully arranged and numbered, so I could keep them in the correct order and orientation when sewing them together.
Each paper square is quite opaque in normal lighting, but when backlit they are translucent, revealing the elements sandwiched inside. I used a mix of Japanese kozo papers, as they are very thin and strong. The little twisted lines inside the blocks are fabric trimmings from another quilting project, and the wedge shape is a piece of cotton quilt batting. I like how the lines resemble strands of DNA:
The image below shows the overall piece lit from the front on the left, and backlit on the right, which reveals the textures and details:
“Art has this ability to allow you to connect back through history in the same way that biology does. I’m always looking for source material.”
JEFF KOONS
Gen (Origin) is available for purchase: $2,500 USD plus tax and shipping.
If you would like to purchase this piece, contact me and please mention the name of the artwork in your message. I will send you an emailed invoice, payable by PayPal, credit card or bank transfer. I deliver to the Seattle area, and ship artwork unframed within the U.S.