A New Ride

I ventured into creating vessels with terracotta clay “feet” in 2016, underestimating the challenges I would face! My wall hangings have a front and back. Vessels have inside and outside with both in sight by the viewer. Wall hangings need only a thin horizontal rod across the top of the back for hanging. Vessels must hold their form and be leveled and balanced on their feet. My vessels led me in search of fabric stiffeners that can withhold changes in air temperatures and that do not change the visual colors and textures of my woven textiles. The sequencing of the various processes involved for each new vessel was unique and tedious (see also March 2020 post “More Than Just 1, 2, 3!”).

My latest vessel, Perseverance, took me on a whole new ride!

I formed and fired all of my clay feet in 2016. I had some ideas in mind, but most were simple, basic sizes and shapes that I would decide how to use as I went along. I did have “perseverance” in mind when I formed feet that suggested strain and tension. With joyful surprise that the creative process always brings, I began this work by cutting out an organic shape and sewing smaller shapes of varying textiles on both sides, with the “hopeful” light, coral trim on the edges. Then I just sewed on the feet as strategically as possible. Unlike my other vessels, I needed to somehow suspend this form while the applied stiffener dried and harden with the six feet leveled and secured on a flat surface!

I used my metal stool that my dad made in his high school shop class in the 1940s! It is sturdy and the perfect height! I strung up and shaped my vessel as I firmly taped the feet to my desk top. And it worked! Perfectly! I think even my perfectionist dad would have approved!  

“And we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produce perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us.” (Romans 5:3)