Archive for the ‘Artists’ Category

My Favorite Quilts: The Art of Harriet Powers

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Have you ever seen the work of a artist that sums up everything you think about art.  For many years I have had favorite artists that have inspired me  and actually help keep my head clear as to my own personal vision.  When I was younger I looked to Degas,  and Lautrec.  As I got older it was SchieleFreud that spoke to me.    Now that I am a mature artist (45 yrs old and very cranky),  I have found a new personal hero, who’s art rocks my world.

Harriet Powers was  born a slave in 1837 in the state of Georgia.  She created story quilts based on important events and bible stories.  There are only two quilts by her that I know of.  I believe both quilts are at the Smithsonian.  After looking at the quilt images please take the time to look her up on the net and learn more about her.  Here is one site that has some info: Harriet Powers.

Harriet Powers     Harriet Powers Bible Quilt  

   Harriet Powers Quilt I

The Chicken Chapel

Friday, December 14th, 2007

My best friend, Jean Benelli, has a very busy house.  She has a daycare, 4 dogs, 5 cats, and chickens.  If you drive by her house you’ll see all the kids and animals running around her large front yard, but what will really capture your attention is Jean’s chicken coop. 

Her coop has a name, The Chicken Chapel.  It is a coop with stain glass windows, chandalier, frescos, tin stars on the ceiling and a stain glass steeple that lights up.  The stain glass windows tell the birth story of Christ with the symbolic use of chickens as Christ and the wisemen.  Using the rooster as the symbol of Christ is historically based.  Inside the ceiling is painted blue, and covered with tin stars.  The iron chandalier has ceramic chickens as subsitute for the lights. 

It is probably better if you just see it for yourself……

 The Chicken Chapel  The Chicken Chaple

The Chicken Chaple   The Chicken Chaple

The Chicken Chaple   The Chicken Chaple

The Chicken Chaple   The Chicken Chaple

The Chicken Chaple   The Chicken Chaple