Hand Stitched Thread on Hand Dye Painted Textile
37.75” x 43.25”/ 96 x 110cm
$9,500

Abstract Textures 3.3 continues the spiral design form in larger repeats than found in the earlier pieces of this series. The whole cloth construction with hand applied dyes from condiment bottles, created the ground for the artwork. Bright tones of yellow, fuchsia, purple, turquoise, and muted black are the predominant colors until viewed more closely, and then small areas of olive, chartreuse, and a golden yellow appear.

As I review my notes on the Abstract Textures 2… and 3… series in 2023, I realize that the ground textiles for all eight of these were dye painted three months before my father died of Lewy Body Dementia in 2014. The stress and mental anguish I experienced then is very much reflected in the harsh dye application and frantic designs. The spiral textural design I had put on each piece in 2014 and hand stitched years later, reflects the uncontrolled whirlwind I felt I was in at the time and now am reliving again with different family members.

Dense hand stitching of sapphire blue, yellow green, orange yellow, fuchsia, grey, and dark grey threads provide visual and physical texture as well as shadowing effects. Navy blue thread creates abstract turbulence in each stitched spiral. An image of the back of the artwork and a close-up of the textural stitching shows the extent of the meticulous workmanship.

Installation of this piece can be in either a vertical or horizontal orientation, which increases the display options for this work. Merging this artwork with any or all the pieces in this series, creates a dynamic contemporary artwork with unlimited shape and size installation possibilities.