Wednesday, January 15, 2014

CAROLYN'S STRONG: THE POWER OF FREEDOM







My original design idea for “strong” was to construct a quilt based on strong women.  However, while I was contemplating design elements, Nelson Mandela died. I deeply admired Mandela and his power of strength through difficult times, so I decided that my quilt must be about him. Years ago I purchased two pieces of African fabric from a South African man at a booth at the International Quilt Festival in Houston.  I had no idea at the time what I would do with it.  I was simply drawn to the irregular hand-dyed cloth with gold embossing.  I immediately pulled it out of my stash to use for this project.  I looked at picture after picture of Mandela on the Internet.  I loved one of him holding a dove about to take flight.  But, not knowing who had made the photograph and thus how to seek permission to use it, I decided instead to make a hand drawing of Mandela based on a statue in Johannesburg.  He is in his classic pose with a clenched fist raised in the air, the same image that flashed across television stations immediately following his death.  After seeing the photo of Mandela with the dove, I knew that I also had to incorporate a dove.  I looked at old Christmas cards from the 1960’s for inspiration and drew the dove in flight that you see here.  Mandela and the dove are raw-edge appliqued to the background.  I made the dove with 4 layers – using an off white fabric with 3 layers of shiny tulle appliqued on top. Mandela is made from the African fabric with a banner across his chest.  Each of these elements is free-motion outline quilted.  I used a decorative stitch above his head going from the dove upward to simulate Mandela rising to the heavens.  Then I used white pencils around the dove and Mandela to produce a “glow” effect.  I added an applique with Mandela’s name and his birth and death dates. The back of the quilt is the full pattern of the African fabric with a panel applique containing words of strength that describe this remarkable man.  An African bird from the fabric is appliqued in the right-hand corner.  The same African fabric was used for the border.  A simple, but I hope powerful, symbol of strength.

9 comments:

  1. Amazing, I almost did the same theme, as Bob and I landed in Africa the day he died. It was quite an amazing time to be there, and witness the love first hand. You captured his message and spirit so brilliantly. The colors, the simplicity of his message with the strength of your piece are fantastic. I hope his peace lasts as many there were worried about things changing the wrong way with their leader gone. Fabulous quilt on so many levels.

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  2. Oh, Carolyn! Now THIS is my favorite of all your quilts! I, too, looked on Mandela as one of my heroes, and I was so moved and touched by the outpouring of love and admiration when this great man died. From your fabric choices, to the over-all design, to the quilting, and to the fantastic back--everything is as close to perfection as it is possible in this world to be. Congratulations!

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  3. Once again you have created another beautiful two-sided work of art. So wonderful that you could use your very special fabric for this tribute to one of the strongest man known in modern times.The back is as impressive as the front. Well done!

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  4. What a perfect subject. Mandela was such a leader. I love your bird and the back. I need to remember to use the back.

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  5. I am glad you were FREE to change direction when history presented the topic Mandela.Such amazing strength and so good you documented it further. I love African fabrics and phone around regularly to try to find them.

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  6. Oh Carolyn, this absolutely took my breath away! I knew it was Mandela even before I had scrolled enough to see the whole quilt and his name. I am so drawn to simple graphic solutions truly believing that they can be the most powerful, and your quilt exemplifies my theory perfectly. This is not to say that the amount of thought and work that went into this quilt was simple, quite the contrary, as every single little detail was no accident.

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  7. Carolyn .. What an awesome piece ! I really loved how you explained the various techniques you used, and described how you were personally drawn to make this beautiful Mandela tribute. Thanks so much for sharing your personal insights with all of us.

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  8. At last I am able to comment! I love the symbolism of the dove especially. Using the African fabrics was inspired!

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