Mixing media, symbolism, & language

My latest finished artwork started as an experiment with mixed media, symbolism, and language. The design of the piece evolved from playing with circle patterns and the yin-yang symbol. The shape and color reflect dualities in life through use of the yin-yang symbols, sun-moon symbols, and cool-hot colors. 

The piece was created with a collage of sheer fabric bits, Glitterati fibers & film, metal shim & knit ribbon and wire on a dissolvable stabilizer. Machine stitching holds the collaged bits and wire together. About five sewing machine needles were broken in the attempt to sew over and around the thick wire. After the first needle broke, I realized I needed to wear safety glasses. Once the collage was sufficiently machine stitched, the dissolvable stabilizer was rinsed away. The piece was then hand-stitched with hand dyed ribbons to a metal craft ring.

That Than Which

Detail of That Than Which

​The experiment with language came from remembering a fragment of “The Works of Saint Anselm” from participating in “The Great Conversation” course series (now renamed as “Enduring Questions” apparently) at Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Saint Anselm’s language was quite circular, and I found it pretty entertaining:

“Hence, if that, than which nothing greater can be conceived, can be conceived not to exist, it is not that, than which nothing greater can be conceived.”