Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Felt Flames, Inspired by Josef and Anni Albers

I'm not entirely sure what to call these little seed bird flame things, made from scraps of wool felt stuffed with wool roving, but they started to proliferate last year around Christmas, and I've made quite a few since then. As gifts, and as a kind of Josef Albers color study (and as a form of meditation).


Some of the colors recede and others pop...it's all about how they interact when next to each other. Come to think of it, that's a lot like people: whether or not you are introverted or extroverted, for example, depends on proximity, relationship, and interaction.





The Wikipedia short form bio: Josef Albers (March 19, 1888 – March 25, 1976[1]) was a German-born American artist and educator whose work, both in Europe and in the United States, formed the basis of some of the most influential and far-reaching art education programs of the 20th century.

A student of the Weimar Bauhaus in 1920, Albers had a long career, with his wife, Anni, first at the remarkable Black Mountain College, and then at Yale. He wrote the book Interaction of Color, published by Yale University Press, and started the Josef and Annie Albers Foundation. It's a wonderful legacy.

Here are some of the felt flames next to a mixed-media drawing I made years ago. I only noticed later how they somehow fit together. And there they are below on a line, held with embellished clothespins (another little obsession). 

And finally, captured in a green bowl. Here is a quote from Anni Albers that I've decided to make my credo: 
"A longing for excitement can be satisfied without external means; for creating is the most intense excitement one can come to know."







5 comments:

Daughter Number Three said...

Beauty!

elena said...

Thanks, DN3..There is one coming your way..pick a color!

Joyce said...

Elena, I'm so happy that you are back after the hiatus--your creativity first thing in the morning makes my day. Love the creativity credo, too!

elena said...

Hi Joyce...I am writing in the evening now, so don't be disappointed if you don't see a new posts in the early morning. I'm trying to walk in the early morning with friends instead. It's an experiment, but seems to fit better into the daily rhythm than getting up at 3 or 4 am..(I am hoping those days are over!) Thank you so much for checking in here and adding your voice to the comment mix.

elena said...

PS Love you, Mom! (Someone once wrote that most blogs are read by the writer and – at best – his or her mom. That's a great start!)