BubbeWisdom

ReNew: The Words

Showing at BNY Mellon Contemporary Craft Satellite Gallery

This part of the ReNew Exhibition is a collaboration project with my daughter, Sarah Silk. Together, we are SilkDenim, re-making 100% recycled materials into individually crafted objects. We’re particularly attracted to denim because of its rugged practicality and unique ability to improve with age. Using recycled materials requires us to work with authentic details & create every piece anew, providing a unique one-of-a-kind object that emphasizes the craft & beauty of re-using over discarding.

Words of Wisdom came from our personal collections of words, phrases and inspirational quotes that permeate the internet. Why not translate them into a evocative textile that embody warmth, craft, and permanence?

Words of Wisdom; Individual Word Blocks; Various Sizes, Materials and Techniques. $95 each.

*Words of Wisdom: You Create*
Embroidery, patchwork, hand stitching

*Words of Wisdom: Mindful Steps*
Embroidery, patchwork, hand stitching

*Words of Wisdom: SuperHer*o
Reverse applique, patchwork, hand stitching

*Words of Wisdom: Imagine*
Reverse applique, patchwork, hand stitching

*Words of Wisdom: ReNew*
Hand embroidery, quilting, reverse applique; recycled SilkQuilt, Mother’s hand embroidery

Renew: The Denim

Showing at BNY Mellon Contemporary Craft Satellite Gallery

Dina’s Coat of Many Colors *Ketonet Passim*; 57” W X 52” L X 2” D; Hand and Machine Pieced Denim Remnants, Old Quilt Remnant. Hand Quilted; $1600.00.

The current #MeToo movement is an expanded global community of survivors from all walks of life highlighting the breadth and impact of a worldwide sexual violence. They demand perpetrators be held accountable and strategies implemented that sustain long term, systemic change.

Dina, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, is the biblical accounting of women’s violation. The equal combination of divine attributes of strength, gevorah, and lovingkindness, chesed, come together as a significant force in the healing process.

**Uriel’s Yukata and Pant**; 66” H X 54” W X 2” D Machine and Hand Pieced Colored Denim and Old Quilt Top; Boro Stitching; $1100.00

Each angel has a single divine purpose. The angel Uriel is an action angel preforming service for universal peace. A yukata is a casual version of a kimono.

**Saturday Night Angels**; Blue 27” L X 53” W X 4” W; Multi-color 36” L X 41” W X 4” W; Machine Pieced denim and sweatshirt remnants; applied denim seams; $900.00 each.

These Angelic Mantles represent the metaphysical color system of angels based on seven different light rays. Working with recycled denim, the most difficult part of jeans to use is the back-center seam. These pieces transform that waste into this higher purpose.

**No Hate Flag;** 33” H X44” W; Machine Pieced and Quilted Denim Waistbands and Remnants, $1111.00.

There is a long extensive herstory of quilts made as a public expression of political issues. This was mine in response to the lives lost at the Tree of Life massacre.

ReNew: The Quilts

Showing at BNY Mellon Contemporary Craft Satellite Gallery

**Gabriel’s Mantle**; 52” W X 26” L X 2” D; Machine Pieced and Hand Quilted Tee-Shirt Remnants, Old Quilt Remnant; $900.00

Gabriel is the pure spirit identified with the divine attribute of Yesod- the longing to connect. The mantle, like a quilt, serves the practical function of keeping someone warm protecting them from the elements. In this case, it also serves as a symbolic divine representation.

**Rasiel’s Mantle’s**; 43” H X 63” W X 2” D; Machine Pieced and Hand Quilted Tee-Shirt Remnants, Old Quilt Remnant; $1600.00.

The archangel, Rasiel, presides over our actions transforming the knowledge of information and ideas into the wisdom of achieving our deepest levels of understanding. The mantle, like a quilt, serves the practical function of keeping someone warm protecting them from the elements. In this case, it also serves as a symbolic divine representation.

**Holy, Holy, Holy;** 77” H X96” W X 8” D; Machine Pieced and Hand Quilted Tee-Shirt Remnants, Old Quilt Remnant; $1800.00

In Isaiah 6:3 of the Hebrew Bible, one Seraphim exclaiming to another: Holy, holy, holy, is The Holy One: the whole earth is full with This Glory. Stating the word three times in a row emphasizes complete devotion to what is good and righteous.

**Free Form Quilt #4;** 76” H X 63” W;
Machine Pieced and Hand Quilted Tee-Shirt Remnants; $495.00

Quilts made of tee-shirt logos are a way to consolidate, combine and celebrate important memories. The problem becomes what to do with discarded sleeves and the edges? Free form patchwork means that there is no pattern. I take the pieces and combine them in any way they come together. The fact that circles are the most challenging seams and knits are the most stretchy materials creates quite the challenge, but it is also part of the fun to be able to bring it together into a workable format.

A Most Significant Ritual

ReNew; 16”H X 12”W; Hand Embroidery, Quilting and Reverse Applique;
Recycled SilkQuilt and Mother’s Hand embroidery.

At 9:00 today I will create what feels like a very significant ritual. I will put on my walking shoes, pack up a hot tea, download my latest Impeachment podcasts and walk from the loft down to Contemporary Craft’s BNY Mellon Satellite Gallery where my exhibition ReNew with a selection of some of my most vibrant and powerful works will be on display from today through to May 1st.

When the opportunity presented itself, my first thought was how cool would it be to actually sit in the space, allowing the viewers an opportunity to not only see the work, but also share in the process: observe the stitching, ask questions, suggest ideas, even sit along with me and having their own stitching experience?

The seed germinates. The idea presents itself. It is fostered and supported. A ritual is created including an observation, an acknowledgement, a step, a stitch, a sip, a listen, a word, an action, a thought, a prayer. It feels powerful and I wanted to share it with you.

Hope to see you there, every Wednesday around lunchtime for the next 12 weeks.

Addendum: This is the video tour of Renew

Memory Quilt 2019

Favorite Deconstructed Denim
SilkDenim Flying Geese
Steve’s Painting Pants
Leftover Shirt Patches
Sandy’s Ugly Comforter Top
Hemp Shirt bought at Zen Center
Nana’s Caftan
Black Ribbed Turtleneck
Alex’s Table Cloth
Gottlieb Fabric
created print of Shekinu Embroidery
Ronda’s Hemp J Jill Jacket
Nicole Miller Pittsburgh Tie
Gabriel’s Sweater and Termal Top
Jody’s Danish Bread Basket
Heath’s Zen Robe
Print Shop Canvas Bag
Steve’s Indian Sack made into Bag
Special Olympics Golf Shirt
Tie Dye Tee-Shirts
Green Embroidered Tee
J Jill Pale Pink Textured Tee
Blue Fish Tee

God Is A Verb

From the book by David Cooper:

On the verb of God: When we give a name to the nameless it is a stumbling block that trips most people. We think that if it has a name, it has an identity. An identity comes with attributes. So we think we know something about it. This is a mistake.

For thousands of years this mistake has become ingrained in the human psyche. The word “God” suggests an embodiment of something that can be grasped. We have given a name to the unknown and unknowable and then have spent endless time trying to know it. We try because it has a name; but we must always fail because it is unknowable. Judaism is so concerned about this misunderstanding, it goes to great lengths to avoid naming God. Yet various names seep through because our minds cannot work without symbols.

What then is the God that is written about in the bible? Kabbalists teach that the very first line of Genesis has been mistranslated. Most people think it says: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” But the actual words in Hebrew can be read another way. A Kabbalist could say: “With a beginning, [It] created God [Elohim], the heavens and the earth.”

That is to say, there was an initial creation out of nothingness the potential to begin–Beginningness. Once there was a beginning, God (in a plural form) was created–a God to which the rest of creation could relate. Then the heavens and the earth were created.

The implication of this interpretation profoundly affects our entire relationship with God and creation, for it says that all the names we have for God and all the ways in which we relate to God are a few degrees removed from the source of creation that precedes even nothingness. This is called Ein Sof, which is not the name of a thing but is an ongoing process.

On Torah study: The literal account of the five books of Moses is almost impossible to appreciate without assistance. Hundreds of commentaries exist, and, as we might imagine, many offer interpretations that contradict others. Nobody agrees that there is a definitively “correct” way to read the Torah. In fact the oral tradition suggests that there are at least 600,000 different interpretations, representing the number of those who received the Torah through Moses at Mt. Sinai.

This is what makes the study of Torah so interesting. If we simply accept the literal meaning of what it says, then it is merely a book with many unusual stories. If we engage it, however, work with it and use a variety of methods to analyze the text, it yields hidden clues that lead us on to further investigation. Study like this, a continuous give and take, becomes a mystical relationship between the text and the one studying it.

Listen to Cooper’s own words in this interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxEaMaOumA0

It Takes A LifeTime-ReBlog

Some of my personal favorites

This is a reblog from 2015 I discovered while researching my newest project. It remains a thoughtful answer to the most often asked question.

The big question that I am getting lately is- How long does it take you to make that? Oh my, what a loaded question. There are so many factors that go into each and every quilt: the purpose, the budget, the materials, and the use to name the most basic. That requires a face-to-face meeting with the client- asking critical questions to understand the needs and goals for the project.

I go through the materials and organize them to make sense for this particular project. I begin with my experience- recalling past projects that fit into the same classification. For example, someone is interested in a curtain- I look back at all of my curtain projects and see what will help me this time.
I search through other pieces of art that will engage my creativity looking for innovations that will help make this piece better.

I decide on the format- do I need a drawing? a pattern? a series of cuttings? Are there different components to the project- does it need a border- will it be used as wall art? What is the backing?
Finally, the work begins, a very organized and speedy process of cutting, piecing, ironing, pinning, observing, correcting, noting, quilting, binding………………..

How long does it take to make a quilt? A lifetime of experience.

Three Seraphim

Machine pieced & hand quilted t-shirt remnants, old quilt remnants, assorted yarns

On view at the 107th Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Annual Exhibition; Westmoreland Museum of American Art; November 9, 1919-January 26th, 2020.

I use ordinary textile remnants to create art quilts. This work is one in a series of mantles representing spiritual entities. The mantle, like a quilt, serves the practical function of keeping one warm while protecting from the elements. These mantles serve as symbolic divine representation multiplied by the power of three. The purple stars of Sariel evoke inner wisdom. The eyes of Chamuel, surrounded in green, channel strength and courage. The yellow and orange wheels of Uriel bring knowledge and insights.

Prayer To Michal

Michal the Archangel, the champion of The Divine’s people, help us in our struggle against evil in our hearts and in our midst. Guard and guide those whose special task is to work for the welfare of all. Keep our homes and families safe from harm. Be at our side at life’s end and lead us safely to The Divine whose great love we cherish and whose mercy we implore. Amen

A Patch Work Life: The Hands On Guide To Living Piece By Piece

Quilt:
Voluminous layers
Countless hues and values
Embedded with meaning
Personal herstory
Minuscule patches that speaks volumes
Ensconcing with warmth and protection
Hand Stitched patterns
Endless sizes, shapes and forms
Piecing, Stitching, Darning, Mending, Ripping

Producing Quilts:
The next one is always better than the one before
Organized cutting and construction steps
Staying at the machine until the entire set is pieced
Process over product
Creating something original comes unexpectedly without planning

Memory Quilts:
One little patch tells its own story
Stains and holes add meaning
Satisfies individual needs for healing
Can heal through past, present and future

Essence of Me:
Strong family ties
Thinking outside the box
A little ahead and to the left
Reticent to get involved yet too quick to jump in
Problem solver, looking for practical solutions
Transforming continually from being to doing and back again
Compelling deep connection with spirit
Big heart
Gestalt, big picture thinker
Direct understanding derived through personal experience

Being Prolific:
Always have the next step ready to go before stopping
Use idle time to think through ideas
Keep the materials organized, separated by type, easily accessible
Prepare the leftovers as you go
Having enough materials on hand for alternative options
Constant desire to create something new
Great outlet for compulsive behavior

Being in Relationship:
A constant search for the balance of together and alone
Prioritize its importance and give it its due
Eating meals together, getting up and going to bed at the same time
When feeling criticized step back to understand what is behind the statement
Instead of over reacting, stop, feel, find a reaction that is soft, positive and personal
When the reasons are not clear for an action, stop and ask why
Never make assumptions
Express needs, concerns, feelings openly
Step away as needed
Support the other person’s effort to be independent and responsible in other relationships
Maintain a sense of humor

Forms of Anxiety:
Fear of making a mistake
Fear of not knowing enough
Rejection
Criticism
Not feeling good enough
Negative and faulty beliefs about self
Lack of trust
What is unknown or not understood

Mothering:
Self-care enables care of others
Untold life rewards
The truest meaning of instinct
Contributes to life purpose

Basics:
Quality sleep is the backbone
Overcoming food likes, obsessions, cravings is a lifelong challenge
Aging gracefully requires a real commitment to keeping physically active
See who is in the mirror
The stillness of meditation shows the way
Anything can be a spiritual practice
Change is the only constant
Quality over quantity
Identifying and feeling emotions allows for flow
Ask questions and apply critical thinking

Life Goals:
Die with awareness
Give up judgement
Combat prejudice, promote diversity, advocate social justice
Do things that bring happiness
Listen carefully and speak from the heart