05 February 2009

04 February 2009

3 Desires

this shirt

a barn for a home

and a torta di mora

02 February 2009

Anna Von Mertens


Last week artist Anna Von Mertens lectured in a class of mine. She makes quilted bed sculptures as well as works seen on the wall. In one of her series she uses an astronomy mapping software to calculate the coordinates of violent moments in history. The software shows how the stars appeared at the moment and in that place. She then hand-stitches the map of those stars. Incredible!

She spoke about the importance in her life of framing herself as a 'conceptual artist' rather than a 'textile' or 'fiber artist'. I thought this was such a great point in that, it seems to me, that fiber artists automatically join a community of gossipy wealthy women whose motives for creating art are having too much time on their hands. In my past experiences I've learned that I not only can't stand this community but want to be taken seriously. I feel a little loose in the skin of 'conceptual artist' but maybe I can grow into it.

Two of her pieces:

'Black'

'Vanishing Point'