show off
I made a big quilt out of advertising circulars and paper bags. It got accepted into a show in Ventura — I hope this early victory bodes well for the other shows in which I entered the Junk and Science Quilts.
My friend Turquoise’s painting “Summerhouse” got in to the show, too. Come to the reception; we’ll be the two broads swilling wine in the corner.
“Repurposed and Recycled – Art From a Disposable Society”
Atrium Lobby Gallery, Hall of Administration
Ventura County Government Center
800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura
Reception: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:30 – 7:00pm
Exhibition: Thursday, October 22 – Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Viewing hours: Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
“Our disposable society discards immense amounts of goods and materials every day. This show celebrates the creative ways artists transform discards into works of art.”
About the quilt, in Artist’s-Statement-ese:
Junk Quilt
Becky Haycox
2009
Size: 53.5” x 53.5”
Materials: Printed advertising circulars, paper bags, brass paper fasteners, thread, duct tape
This piece is an attempt to reform castoff and unwanted materials into something traditional and familiar.
The quilt, made from advertising circulars, is a cacophony of image and color — as junk mail can form a cacophony in one’s life. However, as one approaches the piece, an order to the chaos appears — the pieces have been “tamed” into familiarity using folk art quilting techniques, made with a desire to create something useful from the useless.
I collected two week’s worth of advertising circulars that are routinely delivered to my mailbox — unfortunately, the quilt only uses a small portion of the amount of unwanted paper that enters my life on a regular basis.
I pieced and assembled the “quilt” top using a sewing machine, and fastened the top to the poster board backing using brass paper fasteners — all traditional quilting techniques that have been adapted for the medium of paper.
The quilt is finished using a binding made from the edges of reclaimed paper bags. The entire piece is reinforced using duct tape.
Update: I won first place! Read the happy (and very slightly sad) story here.
That is SO cool! Oy, I sound like I’m in 8th grade back in the 80s. Um, it’s tight. A really creative idea and I love the paper bag binding. I missed that until I read the post.
I thought it was the wood from a table that you set the quilt on. Bravo!
It sounds like this is a showing and not a competition, but if it were a competition you better win first place.
That quilt is incredible. Well done! Some homeless dude would trade in his daily paper for that. Have fun swilling at the art show.
This is very interesting. How did you hold it all together? I’m guessing it isn’t traditionally sewn.
Thanks, guys! There is actually a cash prize for 1st/2nd/3rd. I stopped by the exhibit yesterday — there are some definite contenders, including some good sculptures that the artist made out of fire-damaged items from the big fire in Santa Barbara a few months ago. However, mine has the size “wow” factor… we’ll see! (ps the petty side of me says there are some utter CRAP entries, too — like 7th grade summer camp bad)
It actually is traditionally sewn! I cut the paper in 6″ x 6″ squares and sewed ’em using my machine and regular thread. It started off so easy, but as the piece grew, it became horribly unwieldy (no stretching or folding could be done). I ended up putting the paper bag binding on by sitting on the floor and kind of moving my sewing machine along.
I then “bound” the quilt top to poster board by using brass paper fasteners.
I’m so glad it got into the exhibit, as it’s been living on my floor (the only ample surface area available in my apt) for a MONTH!
awesome. i’d love to see it in person.
Wow. I’m totally impressed you were able to sew it together. How big is it? Best of luck in the show! Be sure to post how it goes.
53.5″ x 53.5″ (the “what was I thinking?” size). Thanks for the luck! Here goes nothin’!