Tuesday, July 27, 2010

COLOR IMPROVISATIONS - Work by Terry Jarrard-Dimond



In my last posting I presented some casual shots of the COLOR IMPROVISATIONS installation in Stuttgart, Germany. Today I am presenting the three pieces I had in the exhibition.

This work represent a year of studio time. In the process producing work for the show I experienced many highs and lows but when I saw the work installed, reviewed the catalog and met the people attending the reception all of the lows melted away and I gave into the pride I feel being in this show.

FOREST FLOOR - Terry Jarrard-Dimond
78.25" x 78.25"
Hand-dyed cotton, Freecut, Machine-Pieced and Machine Quilted
Photo: Kuhnle+Knodler Fotodesign BFF, Radolfzell



Forest Floor was the first piece I successfully completed. I began the work for this show before I had all the facts relating to the show. I actually constructed two pieces which are still in my closet. They were put aside because they just didn't represent my work. A third piece was completed but it didn't fit the guidelines. That piece is very nice and is entitled Mysterious Stranger. The show is the brain child of Nancy Crow and she had requested we work in a four-plex format. Mysterious Stranger was designed in 4 units but the units are long rectangles. Perhaps it would have been acceptable but I choose not to submit it for the jury.

Forrest Floor has some elements that are a little different for me as I incorporated elements which are very soft and flowing. There is a large figure on the right side which presented itself and I decided to allow him to dance around the forest and continue performing the ritual he is engaged in. The most difficult part of the composition is bringing the four large squares together without the composition looking like units. The color is just as rich as the picture shows. Most of the fabric is a high quality type of muslin which is no longer being manufactured. I spent about 18 months trying various fabrics, found this one and now it is gone.....




FIGURE IN BROWN - Terry Jarrard-Dimond
81.5" x 83"
Hand-dyed cotton, Freecut, Machine-Pieced and Machine Quilted
Photo: Kuhnle+Knodler Fotodesign BFF, Radolfzell


After completing Forest Floor I had two failed pieces where I just couldn't get anything going. I tried beginning with some base colors which were very unique for me and these pieces just died on the wall. It's a very humbling experience to find yourself having this experience right at a time you want to do your very best. About that time I attended a week of open studio and the flow of energy present in that studio was just the right boost I needed to start moving ahead. During that time I constructed Figure In Brown.

I often find inspiration for work through color and that, along with my interest in the "bean" shape on the left, was the starting point for this work. Almost every piece of fabric in the work was fabric I over-dyed. Over-dying fabric brings richness of color, texture and surprises and because many of these were over-dyed at the same time, there is a harmony that is very pleasing.


Next came SCULPTURE GARDEN.



SCULPTURE GARDEN - Terry Jarrard-Dimond
80.5" x 82.25"
Hand-dyed cotton, Freecut, Machine-Pieced and Machine Quilted
Photo: Kuhnle+Knodler Fotodesign BFF, Radolfzell


This work has a broader color palette and a more complex structure. I made sculpture for many years and as I began assembling this work I saw that my feeling for three-dimensional space was coming forward. I enjoy looking at the overlapping shapes which manage to slide over or under it's neighbor and surface somewhere else.

I made one other piece before time to submit the work for the initial jury. After having 3 pieces selected I had to get busy and quilt and do the finish work. I have a good working space but I can tell you that managing 3 large pieces for quilting and finishing all at the same time was a trip. It has made me appreciate the joys of doing some smaller work ; )


The final step was the packing and shipping the work to Germany. I never fold my quilts but in this situation folding and packing in a box was the only option. I managed to put all three pieces in one 20" x 20" x 20" box. Ginie Curtze who handled the show is evidently a magician as my work looked fresh as a daisy as did all the pieces. Ginie will be handling the work as it travels and I thank you for all your hard work and expertise.


So now the work is part of an excellent exhibition which has it's own life. I won't see that work for a long time. I have hopes it will come to the US and if it does I will be there to greet it with a smile.

Thank you for stopping by. I love hearing from you.




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