It started like this- about six weeks ago, I realized I was missing something. It was a red string from a dear friend that always hugged a photo in my bathroom. In a past blog, I explained the importance of the red string to ward off the evil eye. I looked everywhere for my redContinue reading “It’s still about the Container”
Tag Archives: teaching
Cleaving
How does one access the Divinity within? The Hebrew word for glue is דבק dvk, the root for devekut, which in modern Hebrew is a synonym for dedication toward a particular goal. The mystic meaning of devekut is cleaving or attaching oneself to The Holy One. It occurs frequently in Deuteronomy (4:4, 10:20, 11:22, 13:5,Continue reading “Cleaving”
A Spiritual Tent
Currently installed in the Jaffe Book Art Collection at Florida Atlantic University is a spiritual tent I made over the summer of 1993. It is a two-sided tent 8ft X 8ft X 7ft high machine pieced and quilted out of 100% cotton purchased broadcloth. The outside is made of 12 soul panels created from appliedContinue reading “A Spiritual Tent”
Community Quilting
The sisterhood of a local congregation, Tree of Life Or L’Simcha, enlisted my help to create a quilt for the entrance of their building. We began with a first meeting where everyone brought meaningful pieces of cloth and I presented a PowerPoint talk giving an overview of quilts made with meaning and memory and aContinue reading “Community Quilting”
Every Day Zen
If someone asks me about Zen, I inevitably refer to the book, Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck. The late Charlotte Joko Beck and her dharma heirs operate The Ordinary Mind School a non-hierarchical organization that uses an adapted Zen practice free from traditional patriarchal trappings with elements of vipassana meditation and the conscious engagementContinue reading “Every Day Zen”
A Quilt A Week
Speaking to a group last week, the question came up, “How long does it take you to make a quilt?” To which I answered, “I make about a quilt a week.” This led to gasps in the audience, so I thought about it for a second or two and said, “Maybe that’s a bit ofContinue reading “A Quilt A Week”
Fabrics Included = Many Memories
Directions:Sew together four half-square 5″ triangles for each finished 6″ block. Make 120 blocks, ten blocks times twelve blocks, for a 60″ X 80″ quilt top. Fabrics included:Rayon print vest, two JJill hemp pants suits, Heath’s pin-whale corduroy shirt, Dad’s golf hankie, Billy Siegal’s mola remnants, Slave Boy remnants, Sun Dog Shirt, Mom’s 75th cremeContinue reading “Fabrics Included = Many Memories”
Free Bubbe, Mandela, and the 99%
My almost four-year-old granddaughter is constantly asking questions about jail. In an effort to change her focus from people who are imprisoned for doing bad things, my son, Eli, informed her that her Bubbe had spent time in jail. That’s right, I, Louise Silk, Bubbe of Maya Elizabeth Silk, made the front page of theContinue reading “Free Bubbe, Mandela, and the 99%”
Whatever It Takes
This weekend I will be an artist-in-residence at Allegheny College in Meadville. Two talks, four classes, one workshop makes for a productive experience for all of us. My visit is part of The Year of Sustainable Communities at Allegheny College, a series of activities, workshops and events aimed at inspiring the campus and community toContinue reading “Whatever It Takes”
Success in Failure
My newest struggle with My Container started this week with the change in weather. Suddenly, my perfect wardrobe was no longer perfect. That brought out the internal struggle of my commitment to the project. Should I adhere absolutely to the rules? Should I change out what is no longer working? Would it be right toContinue reading “Success in Failure”
BubbeWisdom 