The Found Object Target

(Above:  Found Object Mandala CLXXX, The Target. Custom framed: 39 1/2" x 39 1/2".  Found and spray-painted toy soldiers and assorted buttons hand-stitched to the back of a vintage quilt.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

This mandala started about three or even four months ago.  At Bill Mishoe's auction (back in Columbia!), I was the successful bidder on a table lot of plastic military toys.  There were airplanes and tanks and all sorts of game pieces, but there were dozens of unopened bags of soldiers.  I knew while I was bidding what I would do.  After all, I've stitched practice targets before.  Ready, Aim, Fire! is blogged HERE.  This piece was part of the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) global traveling exhibit, Guns: Loaded Conversations. A Midwestern lawyer saw it and commissioned another one.  

(Above:  Mandala CLXXX, detail.)

Thankfully, no one else at the auction wanted these things.  There were actually three filled tables.  When the first table didn't bring an opening bid, Bill Mishoe combined all three.  I got everything for under twenty dollars.  Most of it, I gave away or exchanged for a couple bucks to a few people who just didn't want to haul off three tables worth of toys!  All I wanted were the soliders.

(Above:  Mandala CLXXX, detail.)

Within a few days, I went to a big box hardware store and bought the needed colors of spray paint.  The back side of a red-and-blue, bow tie quilt was then stapled to my largest stretcher bar.  I considered using the front (as I did with Mandala CLXXII) but the solid blue back just looked better.  The circle divisions were drawn on in ink.  The lines were covered with buttons.  Then, the fun began!

(Above:  Mandala CLXXX, detail.)

The spray painting was done outside ... one color at a time ... one side of the toys at a time and then flipped.  I ran out of both black and white spray paint and had to return to the hardware store for more.  Every night for weeks, soldiers were stitched tightly on top of one another.

(Above:  Mandala CLXXX, seen from an angle.)

Even though I finished this piece shortly before we moved, there wasn't the time to frame it.  We had already moved almost all of the picture frame moulding and equipment.  The work just had to wait until we were settled into our renovated Cateechee church.  Steve is calling this my "statement piece" which is sort of funny.  Like Ready, Aim, Fire! it really doesn't say much of anything.  Neither are overtly pro or con on the issue of guns.  Honestly, I would hope that this piece causes people to pause for just a moment and think about so many toys being given to innocent children and so many soldiers fighting for causes in which they may or may not believe.  I hope the piece bears witness to "too many" ... as in too many guns, too many plastic soldier toys, too many wasted lives.  I rarely want to cram my own opinions down the throats of other people ... so, if you ask me ... I might just smile and say you're supposed to make up your own mind.  Mine is already made up (and I would love to live to see the day when all guns are banned.)