The Four Seasons: Human Metaphors, Stocksdale Gallery of Art

Show Banner which introduces viewers to the conceptual theme of the show.

Passing too quickly, leaving to slowly,

Always returning, again, and again,

As sure as the promise of God,

There passes another season.

SPRING

Fire Within

Fabric and Dye Paint, Quilted

20-1/2" H x 20-1/2" W

Private Collection

The show began with Spring.  This small work that is painted with both fiber reactive dyes and fabric paints, is a depiction of an iris.  Iris come forth each year from the belly of a bulb buried in the earth.  The same idea that we ourselves are vessels of energy, just waiting for the right conditions that will allow us to also burst forth with energy and life.

Veracious Truth

Painted, Pieced, Quilted, Fabric with 3D Frame

29" H x 71" W x 4-1/2" D

Private Collection

The tulips in the merged painting called Veracious Ttruth symbolize renewal or life after death.  If there is one thing you can count on every spring it's the arrival of the tulips.  The word veracious, which means truthful, should not be confused with the word voracious, which means ravenous.  So Veracious Truth means, the truth of all truths.

With Love

Quilted Fabric Painting

66" H x 46" W

Collection of the Artist

This large framed painting has been a "must see" for quilters over the years and has a special meaning to mothers.  The painting depicts a small child exploring the world.  The captured moment speaks to all of us as we yearn to rediscover that delightful feeling of innocence and discovery.

SUMMER

Playful Friend

Quilted Fabric Painting with 3D Frame

27-1/2" H x 44-1/4" W x 3" D

Collection of the Artist

Summer begins with an abstract depiction of fun and playfulness.  The white, over painted swirls inspire the viewer to search for a hidden object or memory within the painting.

Summer Garden

Quilted Fabric Painting

33" H x 31" W

Collection of the Artist

This painting has become one of my signature paintings.  When my mother first saw this painting, she lovingly said, "We can't let this one leave the family, I want to buy it!"  I wouldn't let her buy it, but instead put it to work for me, displaying it in shows and galleries.  After my mother passed away, I immediately removed it from any futher "duty" and now allow it to hang comfortably in my own home, with an occasional public appearance.

FALL

Return

Quilted Fabric Painting

66" H x 45" W

Collection of the Artist

Thais painted and pieced wall hanging represents Fall.  The leaf prints were created with leaves from my favorite trees.  Look closely and you will see an image of the Cross embedded in the blocks that make up the wall hanging.  The idea here is, that as the leaves fall to the ground, their life is not yet over.  They are simply returning to the earth from whence they came.  Similarly, the image of the Cross reminds Christians that death is simply another step in the process of life and that there remains a promise from Jesus to return.

Unconditional Love

Pieced Fabrics, Quilted

86" H x 50-1/2" W

Collection of the Artist

In this pieced wall hanging the center portion is meant to symbolize a waterfall and the quilting also suggests water movement.  Over the years, many people have been drawn into this quilt that seems to have something to say to many of its viewers.

Inner Presence

Mixed Media, part of the Wildfire Series

78" H x 27" W

Collection of the Artist

Filled with the colors of Fall, this 3D mixed media is meant  to represent the Holy Spirit that speaks to us internally.

Changing Season

Quilted Fabric Painting

50" H x 46" W

Collection of the Artist

WINTER

Peaceful Sleep

Quilted Fabric Painting

50" x 46"

Collection of the Artist

The tree appears to be lifeless and yet deep below the soil, out of sight of the viewer, lives an intricate root system that continues to nourish the tree during this less showy time of year.  We can be in a state of winter at any age, at any time.  And winter does not necessarily mean death or depression, instead winter can be a time to build on our own inner beauty and creativity.  A time when our soul can calm down and rejuvenate.

Winter

Quilted Fabric Painting

37-1/2" H x 47-1/2" W

Collection of the Artist

This painting was created using found objects and painting over them.  These objects are things typically found in winter--rocks, twigs, leaves, pine cones and needles, things of nature.

In God's Hands

Quilted Fabric Painting

40" H x 94-1/4" W

Collection of the Artist

In this painting I tried to tie together all the other individual pieces in the show.  The different shapes in the painting are meant to represent our own human uniqueness and individuality.  These shapes form one large irregular shape in a sea of black, symbolizing how fragile we are and how much we need God.  This large irregular shape represents the idea that we can only be completely whole if we surrender ourselves completely to God.  The idea that ultimately we have no control and that all things are "In God's Hands" is sometimes a difficult concept to understand and concede.

The following free standing, three-dimensional bowls and objects were my first attempt at quilted, free-standing, 3D objects.  These became the prototype for a smaller bowls pattern marketed to quilters called Storybowls and later forms and objects.

In this show, the Butterfly Bowl represents our own fragile humanity.  Yet we know that as fragile as butterflies are, Monarchs can travel great distances even across spans of water.  Thus, this bowl and the Butterfly Wings bowl (below) represent courage and strength and determined will.  

Butterfly Bowl

Fabric Painting, Mixed Media, Pieced, Quilted

18" H x 31" W x 33" D

Collection of the Artist

Snowball

Fabric Painting, Mixed Media, Pieced, Quilted

27" H x 27" W x 38" D

Collection of the Artist

This is just my "crazy" piece.  An abstract representation of a snowball and what it might look like if it were magnified.

Butterfly Wings Bowl

Fabric Painting, Mixed Media, Pieced, Quilted

17" H x 32-1/2" W x 32" D

Collection of the Artist