There's something special about this installation. Perhaps it is because I started it while enjoying a wonderful art residency administered by the Springfield Art Association in Illinois. At the time, I was like many others, blissfully unaware that COVID-19 was starting to spread across the globe. These vintage household linens with all their fabric hand prints remind me of the last things I was making before the world became a different place.
Yet perhaps this installation seems special because of the pandemic. Hanging items on a clothesline is like stepping back into a simpler time, when most people didn't rely on a the modern convenience of a dryer but did chores by hand. The Clothesline Installation requires me to relish the easy tasks of ironing, mending, and going outside to use clothespins. There is a joy in this on-going project that always makes me smile.
There are hundreds and hundreds of fabric hand prints in the collection. During a recent road trip to Wildflowers Too in Barnagut Light, New Jersey, I cut out lots and lots more. Why were Steve and I headed to this charming art gallery? Well, the owner had been following the progression of this installation since it started and wanted it to be part of her summer season. All the other pieces are now there and are to hang during August. I'll post images when available.
I had a reason to cut out more hand prints. What reason? Well, I found another pile of linens in my own stash plus a friend donated plenty more. After zigzag stitching around all the hand prints, I hung them up. They filled my clothesline two-and-a-half times! These are the images I took.
The fact of the matter is, I ran out of hand prints cut during the road trip and had to trace out more of them. Now, I have a bunch of hand prints waiting for more household lines. I'm sure more will find their way into my stash!
4 comments:
I always use an outside clothes line whenever possible,the clothes seem much fresher after being in the open air I think. (Melbourne, Australia)
I like to hang my clothes outside, so much fresher. I see another interpretation in your project. Hands as a means of transmission are so important in this pandemic. We are told to wash our hands or sanitise them frequently..... are the patterns on the hands the virus we have to wash away. Irene in N Ireland
I don't even own a clothes dryer and my rotary clothesline and a portable upright wire affair are my "go-to" drying spaces. I have 3 type of pegs as well & a few types that are a hook/peg affair...(Auckland, New Zealand). I quite see your interpretation as well Irene, but want to add, that after you've washed your hands, you must thoroughly dry them...
It's nice to read that some of these pieces will be hung for more people to see. They are such neat installation. Love to see them with the daylight behind them.
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