ink and clay drawing 2004This post is really to Erin, who has a blog full of beautiful work. She is making work that often explores 'tangles,' the chaotic and beautiful marks made by yarn. And I am so excited because I did loads of work on this at Uni and infact at one point considered doing an MA on the edges of torn fabric. But, like a lot of my ideas, I didn't think anyone else was doing this stuff and so I thought it was invalid.
Seeing the work that Erin is producing is such a joy; like finding an 'idea sister,' someone in whom an Idea (a non-sentient, non-material entity travels the Universe looking for sentient life in which to breed - it's why the same idea comes to different people around the same time. What! you didn't think inspiration was the genius of the individual did you?! Ah, I'll post about this some other time...) also has taken root. Except in Erin's case she has allowed the Idea to blossom.
So, here are the images of my work from 2004/5: (Apologies to old blogging friends who have seen this stuff already
copper and steel wire drawing 2004
sewing thread and wax tangle2004
sewing thread and wax tangle2005
(the tangles were soaked in wax in an attempt to preserve them. I suppose I could have also tried resin or something, but I was skint (broke) and the wax was cheap!)
copper wire drawing 2004
Close up of thread and wax tangles from 'Shelter.'
'Shelter'Thread, wax, carbon fiber, steel tacks, silk, polyester, steel wire 2005
Ink and clay drawing 2004Okay, so tonight, while sorting those images for this post I came upon these ink and clay drawings done around the same time. And I suddenly noticed the connection! I mean talk about dense! I just hadn't put together my drawings, the tangles, my rain paintings or the stained fabric work that I have done. I always have felt a bit of a fraud art-wise because I have felt that I didn't have a coherent 'voice,' a sense of what I was trying to say. Everything felt so separate from everything else. Then I look at these drawings and the tangles and even my felt nestbooks and the doodles; and I get it.
It's like I have been invisible to myself, which is weird. It also dosen't say much for my tutors, quite frankly, who also never made any of these connections and certainly did not encourage the drawing expression that I am showing here.
I just never believed that this stuff was valid, that it was okay for me to make work like this. But know I see that being okay is irrelevant because it's what I do.
Phew! This is really exciting for me! Thanks, Erin!!
ink drawing 2004
ink clay and gold leaf drawing 2004
ink drawing 2004
ink drawing 2004 
Posts
6 comments:
HI How true of tutors, why don't they pull out the best of us. They seem to have focussed on putting people through the system, and as long as you are doing well enough, they don't seem to push. How sad that some seem to have lost that exciting part of art where something new emerges. I thought there would be encouragement beyond uni too, where they would take pride in encouraging, supporting their graduates. But whether time doesn't permit, or disinterest I've been dissappointed by support and lack of response to invites, previews etc. I must say the best supporters have been faithful Nathan Chenery and Dianne Wilcocks.
Fabulous revelation for yourself, everything is valid if it is valid for you. Explore further. x
just want to say I am floored by this post. thank you for the gift of it, I've been giddy for days over it. Life's a bit crazy at the moment, but I'll be coming back to give the response it deserves. Thank you.
Erin, you can't be as floored as I was when I found your blog. Beautiful images! And a way of looking that I totally get. 'twas wonderful :)
Krause, I really like these! Follow your bliss! Why does it matter if no one else is doing it? Isn't that the problem with that arts in this country? Go for it! And thanks for your kind comment on my piece at AC x
You might like Pierrette Bloch - working with single strands of horsehair, etc. since the 70s. I like your work very much. Looks immediate, emotive. I tend to store things for 'later'. Have an image of Sculptress Studio on flickr site I'm currently making. Tangle a go go!
I agree with you about the depth and strength and beauty of Erin's work. It is so heartbreaking that you didn't feel your ideas were on the same level, entirely valid, esp. seeing your beautiful and thought-provoking elemental work here - now and over the years. While I was scrolling down, looking at your breathtaking wire and other tangle-images, I thought - but that's in a similar vein to the rain and storm images, and then found that you'd make the connection too. Your work has always inspired and delighted me and it seemed self-evident that it was all linked and sprang from the same inimitable Susan-Kruse-source, so I'm glad your seeing your power a bit more. I also know the lack of trust in my own ideas, it's something to do with low self-confidence and not having been nurtured enough to dare to express ourselves in our very own, individual, deeply felt ways and having a tendency to feeling guilty when I try. Also having an awareness that our society is in many ways too individualistic and selfish doesn't help. And I guess it's a girls' thing too, we've been raised to pay a lot of attention to others, live a kind of background life, and stepping out can feel exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. Here's to trusting our own ideas! Raise the glasses!
Post a Comment