Contemporary tapestry artist, Rebecca Mezoff, waxes on about weaving, yarn, and life in the Southwestern United States...
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
The final Emergence
Well, the latest tapestry was finished a few weeks ago. It always takes awhile for me to like a new tapestry, no matter what anyone else says or how stunning it is in actuality. The finished work never quite matches what I saw in my head when I started weaving. But once I accept that what emerges is something new that came through me, I can appreciate the new piece.
In the spirit of video blogging, I made this little video. It might give you too much of an idea how much of a geek I am, but there you have it. The wool-fuzzy piece coming off the loom.
My three-year-olds at the hospital would shriek at the sound of that worm gear. I just forgot that you could lift it up and the beam would roll. I guess it has been too long since I took a tapestry off this loom.
This may well be the last tapestry from the Emergence series. I'm not sure I'll do any more of them. The winds of change are blowing and new things are afoot.
Here are photos from the whole series which you can also see on my website HERE.
Emergence I, 48 x 48 inches
Emergence II, 44 x 44 inches
Emergence III, 9 x 44 inches
Emergence IV, 15 x 46 inches
Emergence V: The Center Place, 44 x 44 inches
Emergence VI, 16 x 49 inches
Emergence VII, 44 x 44 inches
These spirals have been fun. I started these pieces when I lived in Velarde, NM on a petroglyph preserve. There were spirals on the mesa all around my house. There were other artifacts scattered about and a lot of evidence of many centuries of human visitation and perhaps occupation. The mesa overlooks the Rio Grande and the beautiful sunny winters when the dark rocks heated in the sun must have been pleasant. At least they were for me!
The spiral form left by Puebloan peoples from centuries ago is thought to be a symbol of emergence from another world. For me it meant change and growth and movement forward. I have done a lot of that in the last 4 years. Perhaps it is time to crawl up through that little hole into the next world. You can bet it will include a lot of tapestry-making!
What you said about feeling uncomfortable first looking at a new piece resonated... I always kind of hate to even let anyone look at a new piece just off the loom because I'm always a little disappointed in some way. I have to live with and look at it for awhile before I can really see it and not what I had hoped it would be. Thanks for pointing that out.
Thank you for your geekiness, Rebecca. It was wonderful seeing this piece start it's new life. Michele
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this part of the process. Can't wait to see what direction you go next!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I'm always bittersweet about cutting a piece off the loom. Can't wait to see what you weave next - enjoying the blog and the videos.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome seeing the piece get cut off the loom!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see the new tapestry. I love it. I am looking forward to see what direction you go in the future. Great photo by Connie.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Rebecca! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love your series! And what an equally classy video...
ReplyDeleteBravo! Thanks for the video...so exciting !
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about feeling uncomfortable first looking at a new piece resonated... I always kind of hate to even let anyone look at a new piece just off the loom because I'm always a little disappointed in some way. I have to live with and look at it for awhile before I can really see it and not what I had hoped it would be. Thanks for pointing that out.
ReplyDeletethank you so much for sharing this very personal process. very inspiring. belinda
ReplyDelete