Michael James Exhibition
Taking the train to Providence to meet up again with Shane and Stacy was a beautiful ride on a rainy autumn afternoon. Stacy had to pick up art supplies for her students at the RISD bookstore, when she dropped a little bomb. "Oh we could drive up to Fuller Craft Museum to see the Michael James retrospective..." Holy cow, I had no idea we'd be the neighborhood! Do I know who he is? Stacy, let's go!
Michael James is one of the biggies, a formally trained painter who started making art quilts in the 70's or 80's. I found his book of stripey geometric work when I was just getting interested in art quilts. I think this one is on the cover. But to see it in real life!
I hadn't seen much of his recent work since he started working with large digital printers and the very top quilt one of my favorites. It practically glowed. If you're like me and can't imagine from photos how these could be fabric, here's a little detail.
posted by PaMdora at 4:13 AM
7 Comments:
I love the design layout of the quilt at the top!!!!!!!!! Is the large cube with the yellow shape all one piece printed with a computer? I'm perceiving that it is and not 2 or more different fabrics.
You are having wonderful artistic dates!!!!!!!!!
How lucky to get to go to the MJ retrospective! I must be getting old...I remember eagerly waiting for his first book to be published. Nice that you're introducing a true contemporary quilt pioneer to your readers, many of whom won't be familiar with his work.
Yeah, I like Michael James, but what hit me was your visiting RISD - my old stomping grounds. Nothing like getting to shop in a store like that for supplies for one's HOMEWORK.
I loved being a student there - if I needed more guache or bristol or whatever, I'd just pop out of class, pick up what I needed, drop my student ID on the counter to pay for it all (oh I wish!) and dash back to the rest of my 8 hour studio class.
Ah... those were the days.
I was just talking about Michael James with my 82 year old quilting buddy, Janet Shore. She studied with him back in the 80's, he even stayed at her home. She said when he left he gave her the largest bouguet of flowers she has ever received. I love his work.
These are so cool! I love the top one!!!
But yes yes yes... did you tell Stacy you had a personal consultation with Michael James back when you were in Lincoln?! (Do I remember that correctly?) I'm so glad you got to see his work. I'm not a huge fan, but no one can deny his influence on the art quilt movement. I think I like his newer stuff more.
Okay, I know I am not the most gifted but am I the only one who doesn't get his new work. All the elements are perfect until you put them together and then they seem to have no relationship to each other at all. Call me stupid but I would love for someone to explaing this?
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