lately i’m having alot of fun with incorporating pieces from my epitaph series into a valentines theme.
Bessie Lane is going home
This piece is part of my Epitaph’s series. I am drawn to old cemeteries; the history, beauty and peacefulness touch me deeply. I am reminded of the fragile existence of families long ago-when the mortality of children was heartbreakingly common. The images and script on some of the tombstones are beautiful-the love, grief, and closure is engraved in time forever.
I feel it very appropriate to incorporate some of my antique & vintage fabrics into these pieces. The antique linen I used for the background is part of a child’s dress.
The wonderful turkeyred Victorian fabric was the backing for a child’s tied quilt, and the steel cut beads and black gimp are from a Victorian mourning cape. The tintype of the little girl was from a photo album I bought years ago at the Brimfield antiques market –underneath her picture was written ”Bessie Lane” 1881-1889. I used a Mexican “Milagros heart “ silver frame –it seemed fitting.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Phyllis // Jan 27, 2009 at 1:04 am
What a lovely piece. Creating with this kind of memory is really inspiring both for the artist and the viewer. I too have always loved cemeteries for the same reasons that you mentioned. When entering there is a peace that seems to encapsulate one. Then there is also the experience of meeting the spirits….certainly you have captured this with Bessie Lane.
2 turke3 // Feb 3, 2009 at 4:25 am
thank you for your kind words phyllis. i just got back from the pacific northwest-whibley island in washington state. the town of coupeville is the second oldest town in wa state-the pioneer cemetery is so beautiful. one has a view of the both the olympia’s and the cascades-i felt such serenity and peace of mind-
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