 |
It's been an interesting journey so far, as I've alternated working out in the yard each morning, and then come in to stitch my ideas into reality each afternoon. Early on I realized that liturgical colors would play a role ... I'll write more about that in another post.
More critically, my initial idea to stitch the name of each person who lost their life onto nine of the strips ...
just wouldn't let go, but neither could I ignore Dee's request to "hold off on that for now." Digging in the hot sun, I recalled Psalm 139 with its references to being made in secret and woven together. So I ended up stitching each name ...
 |
using shades of purple and red ...
 |
 |
 |
| Note: the strip for Ethel Lee Lance was reworked in a different cloth after this picture was taken |
then turned them face down and set them as the vertical elements of the square, the names thus made "secret" ...
 |
The horizontal strips were stitched with inspiration from Fiona Dempster ...
using words spoken or written by those who had lost loved ones, each strip corresponding to the individuals named above ...
 |
| Every fiber in my body hurts ... I will never be the same Prosper and believe in any of your dreams This has truly broken my heart in every way We are the family that love built. We have no room for [hate] She was where she needed to be ... she was not a victim I forgive you and my family forgives you You took something very precious ... and I forgive you Their legacies will live in love so hate won't win Hate is taught ... she never taught us to hate |
Then the strips were interwoven, revealing key words in the process ...
While at the same time, the word "hate" that I had worried over ...
 |
ended up concealed, as if it had been planned that way ...
 |
As perhaps it had.
Oh my, oh my, oh my. This block is going to be intense. The decision to use the names reversed is so in keeping with your recent path and the phrases on top are perfect. Go Liz.
ReplyDeleteGoing ... thanks to Jude. And fueled by the hope that maybe, finally, a tipping point has been reached in this sorry old world.
DeleteThis piece is so thoughtful in its construction and so full of love...
ReplyDeleteIt has enabled me to go deeper into this tragedy than I otherwise would have ... the response of the families to their loss is astonishing to me
DeleteLovely, Liz, I always love your attention to detail
ReplyDeleteThank you Jude ... btw, those were my footsteps in your "classrooms" yesterday as I prepare for the next step.
DeleteGrace and grit here in this very moving weaving Liz and so fitting. Echoes of the families who stood facing such a terrible personal tragedy and who did so with strength, faith and deeply amazing grace...
ReplyDeleteIt is beyond my ken ... I cannot imagine summoning forgiveness in the face of such loss.
DeleteYou are amazing. The time and love that has gone into this just moves me to pieces. As do the families that were left grieving the loss of their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI am honored to play a very small part in what feels like a sea-change in our country
Deletesuch a beautiful honouring
ReplyDeleteThe beauty is in the story ... it is indeed an honour to be one of its tellers
DeleteSimply exquisite. Need to find the tissues as your words, artistry and understanding have brought tears.
ReplyDeleteAnd your words in turn have prompted my own ... thank you for coming by and taking the time to leave them
DeleteOh Liz this moves me so so much. How much thought and care in your creation! There must have been something powerful in (among so much else) stitching "died JUNE 17, 2015" over and over again. And stitching the forgiving words and the words of loss. Was it hard to cover them up? Did it feel wrong to reverse the names? This had come out beyond what I could imagine.
ReplyDeleteIt all feels like it is meant to be the way it is ... and I thank you again for trusting me with the small part of a very powerful whole
DeleteTo answer your questions ... stitching each name, I would repeat it in my mind, over and over, like a mantra. Likewise the words of the survivors ... which I now know by heart (quite literally). And the date is engraved in my memory, joining November 22 and September 11 ... too many dates, too many deaths.
DeleteWhether visible or not, they are always there.
Wow. The layers of this are beyond the words. Very powerful.
ReplyDeleteI used to wonder how Jude could cover one piece of work with another ... this project has opened my eyes to understanding that
DeleteIncredible work Liz, just incredible wow!!! You have such a big heart. I hope my students will stop by for a peek :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Deb ... and I'd love it if any of your students came by!
Deletei read, word unto word, reading and it all unfolds...your process and then reading
ReplyDeletethe comments...woven into your words
you are creating something so so Excellect here. it's astounding your process, the
pieces turned away...this is holding me still in this moment....i'll be back....
I'll be here ... gentle day
DeleteLiz-- I've been away fr the computer ...but I have to say that this is a stupendous and moving piece! I love how you thought about how you'd represent the victims and the the healing words of the surviving family members...truly incredible!- Julie
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie ... I think it was the librarian in me ... researching each person to try to understand more about them, plus being so affected by the words of the survivors as they were broadcast. I couldn't let those things go ... so somehow I had to find a way to let them stay.
Delete"i couldn't let those things go...so somehow I had to find a way to let them stay"
ReplyDeleteI can be a bit stubborn when I get an idea in my head ...
Delete