Anna Carlson

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Traces

Traces are memories, evidence, tracks, as well as discoveries. My 9-year-old nephew made a drawing at my studio last month, then turned the drawing over and traced some of the shapes, creating a new pattern. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is showing Leonardo's Codex, his sketches and texts that are visible from both sides. Tracing the path of my own work to date, looking at the work of artists I admire, and reflecting on all I have gathered will lead me into the next work.

mordants on cotton

Moving from gathering to producing the work is hard. My intention for this 2 week period was to merge 3 on-going bodies of work into one single trajectory. I know the text/textile work, the Next Life project, and the natural dye work are related somehow. I've connected the Next Life project with natural dyeing by making collecting bags from running shorts, and by using pants to make weed-guards around newly-planted trees. Some of the t-shirts will be printed with natural dyes also.

I'll continue to trace over my notes and sketches to create the connection to Text/Textiles. “Patience means knowing it will happen . . . and giving it time to happen.”
Susan Jeffers, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway®: Dynamic techniques for turning Fear, Indecision and Anger into Power, Action and Love