Textílsetur, Sjáumst

Sjáumst means, basically, "see you later" in Icelandic, and is often my preferred way of saying goodbye to people and places. It's not final, it's more open ended and hopeful. I left Textílsetur yesterday afternoon and the month I spent there was pretty dreamy with every day filled with quiet studio time, long walks, and solitude in the landscape. On my last full day I took two walks. On the first one I walked along the sea to a cove, one of my favorite places in Blönduós. Then later I took a walk on the farm of the Textílsetur director, Jóhanna Pálmadóttir. Her place is situated on a lake and as I walked along its frozen edges, I noticed there was no sound except for my breathing, the sound of my feet walking through snow, and the sound of snow hitting my parka. There was nothing else, no birds, no cars, and I was surrounded by white. It was an amazing moment and the perfect way to end my time there.

I did complete my black island and I'm very, very pleased with it. I stitched the last knots on Saturday while listening to Björk's, "All is Full of Love." The piece is about darkness, but in the end it came down to a lightness; for me there is always light when all is said and done.

Here are new images of each of my big influences from the month--blue light, darkness, the sea, the sky, and ice--all taken in those last few days in Blönduós.

Thanks for reading. 

Textílsetur, Part 2

Since my arrival I've been working on a black version of my white Island of 14,264 Days. I'm using a similar process as before with a few changes and will be sewing my last knots on the new piece in the next few days. The piece is about darkness, the sadness and heaviness of life, the difficulties and challenges, the other half... I wanted to be here in Iceland in the winter in the dark to make this piece and the season and lack of light has proved very inspirational. I'm not ready to go into greater detail or show images right now... I want to keep this one to myself for a little while longer. However, I'm happy to share some of the things I've been listening to, looking at, and reading over the past month including a few podcasts about different kinds of darkness, some articles, a map, and a beautiful poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

Seeing in the Dark on Radiolab

Dark Side of the Earth on Radiolab

The Secret History of Thoughts on Invisibilia

Jasper Johns: ‘Regrets belong to everybody, don’t they?’ 

by Julie L Belcove

Jorge Manilla: Oscure Sacrifices by Susan Cummins

a map of "what the world would look like if it were only made of islands." 

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A Psalm of Life by Longfellow

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, 

        Life is but an empty dream! — 

    For the soul is dead that slumbers, 

        And things are not what they seem.

    Life is real !   Life is earnest! 

        And the grave is not its goal; 

    Dust thou art, to dust returnest, 

        Was not spoken of the soul.

    Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, 

        Is our destined end or way; 

    But to act, that each to-morrow 

        Find us farther than to-day.

    Art is long, and Time is fleeting, 

        And our hearts, though stout and brave, 

    Still, like muffled drums, are beating 

        Funeral marches to the grave.

    In the world's broad field of battle, 

        In the bivouac of Life, 

    Be not like dumb, driven cattle! 

        Be a hero in the strife!

    Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! 

        Let the dead Past bury its dead! 

    Act,— act in the living Present! 

        Heart within, and God o'erhead!

    Lives of great men all remind us 

        We can make our lives sublime, 

    And, departing, leave behind us 

        Footprints on the sands of time;

    Footprints, that perhaps another, 

        Sailing o'er life's solemn main, 

    A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, 

        Seeing, shall take heart again.

    Let us, then, be up and doing, 

        With a heart for any fate; 

    Still achieving, still pursuing, 

        Learn to labor and to wait.

Thanks for reading.

Textílsetur, Part 1

So much has happened since I arrived at Textílsetur Íslands, so much that it's been hard for me to keep up on the blog between working in my studio, taking my long walks, and going on day-trips. Over the next three days I will attempt to share some highlights, and today I want to begin with the space itself...

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Textílsetur Íslands is located in Kvennaskólinn, a former women's school, situated at the estuary of the Blanda River and Húnaflói Bay. The second floor of the building is dedicated to the residency and includes private bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, bathroom with laundry, and two large shared studios, one for weaving and one for other textile arts. There is such history here and I love the feeling or the energy that immerses all the rooms. Photographs of classes from years passed line the walls and the original furniture is still in use. I have met many women who went to school here and also met a former headmistress. I have my own private room and studio and feel being alone in this small space has been beneficial to my work. I have needed the silence and solitude for this piece specifically. (More on that soon.)

Thanks for reading.

Little Studio

Just a few images of my little studio at the residency, my first stitch on my new piece, and the view one afternoon last week... I feel pretty fortunate to be working in this space with this view. My work is going well. I work in one or two hour increments and take breaks in between to move my body and use my eyes in different ways. I usually take a walk at some point, do some reading, or work on my computer. I often work in silence, which feels luxurious, but sometimes I listen to music or podcasts. The days go by in a quiet way and I am enjoying every moment.

Thanks for reading.

Iceland on My Mind

Small Teardrop Earrings with Posts in my Iceland Palette, 

sale $55.50/pair

Remember a few weeks ago I mentioned I would be sharing some big news with you in the coming weeks? Well, I have news to share today, and new work that complements it. I'm heading back to Iceland in about three weeks! I will be showing "In Between" for two months at the Wind and Weather Gallery in Reykjavik and it opens January 1. Then I head to Blönduós in Northwest Iceland to a residency at Textílsetur where I will be spending the month stitching a black version of "Island of 14,264 Days," an idea I had when I was at the Nes Artist Residency in 2013. Then for the month of February, I will head back to Reykjavík for another month at SÍM where I will be developing new work for my next exhibition. In total, I will be in Iceland for just over two months and I am counting the days until I climb aboard that Icelandair jet. I'll fill you in on the details soon.

To celebrate my return to Iceland, I'm offering some new pieces in my Iceland Palette: Small Teardrop Earrings and Small Teardrop Pendants in colors of the landscape. The earrings are available with posts or wires and the pendants come with an 18" fine cable chain. All pieces are only $55.50 for the rest of the sale. Enjoy!

Small Teardrop Earrings with Wires in my Iceland Palette, 

sale $55.50/pair

Small Teardrop Pendants in my Iceland Palette, 

sale $55.50 each

Sand

Moss

Lichen

Snow

Glacier

Sky

Thanks for reading.