I’d heard there was a textiles exhibit at the Museum and Arts Center and took a look last week. I was glad I did. While it has a selection of beautifully woven and stitched items, the displays included the sorts of whimsical items that I never fail to find delightful. One example is “The Madwoman in the Basement,” above, by Diane Williams of Port Angeles.
I love the artist’s statement: “The Madwoman in the Basement is a self-portrait. She is constructed mostly of stuff that fell to the floor of my basement studio. I swept up and had a doll. Her hair is very much like mine, thick, multi-textured, and uncontrollable. Her glasses are a scatter pin that I got for my sixth birthday. Sometimes it pays to keep everything and make messes. Her husband thinks she’s a hoarder.”
The Peace Mandala, above, is one of two items from Pat Herkal of Port Townsend that caught my eye.
This is the second piece from Pat Herkal that I liked, called “Two Time Tina.” The artist’s statement is, “Two Time Tina is as frustrated as I am with today’s technology. We are both using all our parts to try to stay current and to hold onto our past skills.” I’m no technophobe but I can definitely relate.
The “Threads Count — Textiles, Technology and Tales” exhibit will be on display through November. I’ll show you a few more pieces tomorrow.
Oh how I love the way the artistic mind works Kay.. they conjure up incredible pieces from things that most would not even see!
Like the Peace Mandala very much. If there is a “madwoman in the basement” I wonder if there is a Victorian madwoman in the attic, too?
They are wonderful and she is very talented! I can’t decide which character I like better. They are both so cute!
“The Madwoman in the Basement” – I love it! Ingenious what creative people – and that’s definitely not me! – can do with odds and ends.
Very cool creative pieces. Madwoman in the Basement, what a great idea to collect the stuff on the basement floor and see the birth of the madwoman come alive. The Peace Mandala is gorgeous, lots of concentration going on to create that piece. Two Time Tina, her frustrations are probably felt by a lot of people. I bet she could have her own fan club. 🙂
Your museum seems to have a lot going on, it all sounds great for the people of the town. Thanks for sharing the link.
I’ve never heard of such an exhibit and would probably not be enticed to go if I had heard of one but now, I would definitely go. Love that madwoman from the basement! So creative and funny! I think I’d like the artist, too.
The Madwoman looks well suited as we get closer to Hallowe’en.
Wonderful wonderful. Love the Madwoman in the basement – maybe I should sweep up my studio floor and see what comes of it. The beaded piece is amazing. I love the creativity people show.