These pieces were the beginning of the Torn Things Series. I had an idea that didn’t work out (surprise!), but while I was examining why it didn’t, I had a new idea. Long torn strips of fabric, twisted or tied, possibly with found objects. Bingo!

Each of these pieces represents a season and the titles come from poems I love.

A Torn Thing Blowing

“A Torn Thing Blowing” represents the monochrome winter of the north with its occasional flashes of brilliance from sky, water or bird. The title is taken from Francine Sterle’s ekphrastic poem, “Rag in Window”; (its title is taken from the Alice Neel painting):

After watching it
year after year,
she nicknamed it
the twentieth century.
In defense of despair
that sad flag,
that tattered,
unshamed thing
. . .
Let it hang
off that city stone.
Let the torn thing blow.

Torn Thing detail

Unruly

“Unruly” is part of my TORN THINGS series, inspired by Tibetan prayer flags and Japanese prayer trees. It represents the spring in its tumble of pastels. The title is taken from Donne’s poem “THE SUN RISING” which begins:

Busy old fool, unruly sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers’ seasons run?

Unruly detail

Bountiful

Bountiful

“Bountiful” represents the summer’s exuberance. The title is taken from Shakespeare’s “Anthony and Cleopatra.”

Bountiful detail

Leafmeal

“Leafmeal” represents the autumn in its multicolored glory. The title is taken from G. M. Hopkins’ poem, SPRING AND FALL:

Márgarét, áre you gríeving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leáves like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Ah! ás the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you wíll weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
Sórrow’s spríngs áre the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It ís the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

Detail

Full Spectrum

Full Spectrum

Full Spectrum detail