Art History and the Soul

Comments and reflections from the ART HISTORY POT-LUCK at Oil and Cotton Creative Exchange in Oak Cliff , Texas.

[jcovington]

I have been weaving nice thick wool rugs all winter... simple work but accidentally beautiful.

[jcovington]

I was invited to participate in a Public Art event hosted by the City of Fort Worth. The festival of light and sound was organized by my old friends from Aurora Dallas. I was invited to submit a photo of the words "Fort Worth" in the language of my immigrant family.

My grandmother, who was an orphan, came to the US, as a young adult, to seek her fortune in the land of opportunity. She spent her life as a farmer's wife in a close knit Danish community on the prairies of North Dakota. My dad (the youngest of 12 children) told me that he never saw her idle. If she sat down, she picked up handwork or mending.

I am proud of my heritage but at the same time troubled by the ease with which my grandfather came to the US and was able to claim land that was taken from the original inhabitants. The land is still farmed by my cousins.

It gave me a thrill to be a part of Aurora again, I had participated in small ways in the first several events. Thank you Jin-ya, Josh and Shane.

[junemom2]

Just finished this large (for me) tapestry. It is made entirely of hand spun cotton in natural colors on a commercial cotton warp. The embellishments are bone, clay, acorn caps, shell and the ragged remains of a butterfly.

[jcovington]

This is yarn I made to prepare for our Big Road Trip. It traveled across the USA - unused because It has been too hot to knit. Maybe tomorrow?

[junemom2]

Photos from a workshop I taught last month. These women were serious and committed to turning sticks and yarn into meaningful objects.

[jcovington]

Almost done with a rather large (15x36) tapestry about clouds and weather.

[jcovington]

Newest weaver

[jcovington]

Recent activity

[medievalpoc]

The Salzburg Missal, Vol. 1 [Clm 15708 I, f. 63r.]

“The three Magi, cozily tucked in together, receive a dream vision.“ -@Lieke_A_S

Austria (15th C)

Bavarian State Library

[mod note] This is exceptionally cute.

[butlerbookbinding]

@medievalpoc HOW DARE YOU CAUSE ME TO WRITE MAGI FANFICTION. GOLD, SLOW BURN FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH.

[medievalpoc]

Friend to Lovers, M/M/M/Angel,

[jcovington]

Tiny framed tapestries. Meteorological Observation.

[jcovington]

Tending Blue, by James Turrell This work of art transformed the experience of being downtown. The noise and closely crowded buildings actually surrounded the quiet place. Even a crowd of kids would settle down to look up and watch the unhindered sky simply and slowly change. I made three tiny tapestries in memory of the, now destroyed, space.

[jcovington]

[jcovington]

Washing wool. Perfect activity for a quiet morning. I use a cooler so the water stays hot. The first round is soaked without soap. Now, those locks are drying outside. The cloudy white locks were soaked and then dried last month. Today they had a short soapy soak to get all the rest of the dirt out. I like to leave in some of the natural grease, it makes spinning such a pleasure!

[mediumaevum]

Inside the World’s Only Surviving Tattoo Shop For Medieval Pilgrims

The Razzouk family has been inking religious pilgrims in the Middle East for 700 years

A tiny shop, almost dwarfed by its prominent sign, lies across a quiet cobblestone road. If you didn’t know anything about the incredible, centuries-long history of the family who runs this particular shop, the sign’s tagline might cause you to do a double-take: “Tattoo With Heritage Since 1300” it reads. Read on

[jcovington]

I have a few works in the Sly Cat Gallery Printmaking Show. Great turn out for the opening night!

[uispeccoll]

For this #miniaturemonday we’ve got some button accordion books in a jar, ‘cause why not?

The jar contains  A MINIATURE HISTORY OF THE BUTTON by Maryann J. Riker in three volumes, each giving a synopsis on how buttons became beloved clothing accouterments. Would saying that this concept is as cute as a button be too much?

- Hannah

The Charlotte Smith Collection N7433.4 .R556 M55 2008

Riker, Maryann J., and JUSTARIP Press. A Miniature History of the Button /. Phillipsburg, NJ: Justarip, 2008.

[jcovington]

These are the instructions for weaving on a cardboard loom. Photos to follow.