BIC Report

I may need to explain a bit.  My sister, Janet and I made a commitment to one another.  It was over breakfast at First Watch in Deerfield Beach in August 2016.  We each had dreams that we were procrastinating pursuing.  Janet was a writer and as most writers had trouble dedicating time to write without distraction.  I am an aspiring tapestry weaver with exactly the same problem.

One of my favorite authors Anne Lamott when asked about waiting for inspiration said no writer waits for inspiration.  You sit down and do what it takes to "keep your big fabulous butt in the chair " and write.  I shared this with Janet and we decided to commit to being accountability partners, calling each other weekly with a butt in chair or BIC report.  Her goal was a writing submission and mine was to enter a tapestry in a juried show.

We faithfully did our BIC reports and reviewed the ways we kept ourselves from spending time writing and weaving.  We encouraged and chastised each other.  Janet died on January 17, 2017 and I spent a lot of time after her death reading her writing.  I read two of her poems at her memorial service. 

Time for me to do a BIC report.

Tonight I submitted my submission for a juried show.  artspace in Raleigh Fine Contemporary Craft call for submissions closes tomorrow.  I hold no illusions about my skills or experience as a tapestry weaver.  I am still learning and growing as an artist, but it is time to be bold.  Keep my butt in the chair, put my work out there and make my sister proud.

 My Artist Statement
 

I have had a life long love for all things fiber. Wool, silk and linen have been my medium and spinning wheels and looms my tools. I discovered tapestry weaving three years ago. Almost immediately, wedge weave captured my attention. This ancient Navajo technique allows the weaver to transcend the vertical warp and horizontal weft by weaving on the diagonal. The distortion of the selvedges and the ability to allow the colors and shapes to develop intuitively at the loom appeal to me. It is a departure from the structured grid of life. Tapestry weaving is slow, meditative and an anchor in rough waters.   My Submissions How Green is My Valley - Peters Valley Medium: Tapestry Weaving Dimensions: 14" x 11" x 1.5" Price: $200.00 Year Completed: 2017 Primary Discipline: Fiber Art Art in Public Places: No Description: This wedge weave tapestry serves as my touchstone for a wonderful week at Peters Valley School of Craft this summer. The verdant greens of the Delaware Water Gap, the ditch lilies, the rustic buildings and the bright red of a cardinal winging by. I fell in love with wedge weave and the valley. American Rhetoric Medium: Tapestry Weaving Dimensions: 14" x 6" x 1.5" Price: $175.00 Year Completed: 2017 Primary Discipline: Fiber Art Art in Public Places: No Description: I have been overwhelmed by the American political scene, the distortion, the acrimony and fractured sense of who we are and where we are headed. Using the natural distortion of wedge weave tapestry and hand dyed and space dyed yarns helped me capture my discomfort. The application required a cv, an artist statement  and photos.  All the info emphasizes professional photos.  Gulp, not in the budget.  Application completed, entry payment made.  Probably the most momentous part of this is referring to myself as an artist.  Moving forward and keeping my butt in the chair. Terms of Service Privacy Policy Copyright 2017 Western States Art Federation.