tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post5269160988354998673..comments2024-02-28T21:55:28.899-08:00Comments on True Stitches: Elaine Reichek and MeHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17188002198879523397noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-63142283461357150692012-04-23T21:18:24.906-07:002012-04-23T21:18:24.906-07:00I had thought about you and Elaine Reichek before....I had thought about you and Elaine Reichek before. Those handkerchiefs that you embroidered about a year ago were very Elaine - but also not.<br /><br />I totally understand what you are saying in this post. <br /><br />For me, this goes on with Dorothy Caldwell's work and mine. The only good thing is that she rarely writes about it herself - just lots of other people say how great she is. So I don't really know if she has the same belief system I do about touching and knowing - even though I have studied with her twice. <br /><br />KNowing her as a teacher taught me that you don't need to express your own philosophy all the time (like you and I do) - you can just do your work. Your work is the queen.<br /><br />And I think that's what's happening in the series you are working on now - with these weird appropriated animals. They are so contemporary, so Canadian - so ancient, so mythical, so felt - <br /><br />Really powerful.<br /><br />Thanks however for the new information about Reichek. I had read about her being in the Whitney, but had not seen the work. Now I have.Judy Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00619951031502775381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-44428633441926804002012-04-22T05:48:12.868-07:002012-04-22T05:48:12.868-07:00I think I'm missing something. I'm really...I think I'm missing something. I'm really glad that you posted about Elaine Reichek because, not knowing too much about the world of contemporary textile artists, I had never heard of her before. Yes, my bad. So I was happy to hear your description of her work. Then I read the links that you posted and tried to look more closely at her works. Thanks for doing all that for us readers. <br />As for the dangers in comparisons with other artists, it can be dangerous if you have no confidence in your own work. I know you have nothing to worry about though. I've seen your work and it is strong and unique and if it isn't exactly what you want it to be right now, it will be some day. <br />Keep up posting more stuff that teaches textile-goofs like me something new. Jean-PierreAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-38180960514937209812012-04-22T05:47:43.160-07:002012-04-22T05:47:43.160-07:00I think I'm missing something. I'm really...I think I'm missing something. I'm really glad that you posted about Elaine Reichek because, not knowing too much about the world of contemporary textile artists, I had never heard of her before. Yes, my bad. So I was happy to hear your description of her work. Then I read the links that you posted and tried to look more closely at her works. Thanks for doing all that for us readers. <br />As for the dangers in comparisons with other artists, it can be dangerous if you have no confidence in your own work. I know you have nothing to worry about though. I've seen your work and it is strong and unique and if it isn't exactly what you want it to be right now, it will be some day. <br />Keep up posting more stuff that teaches textile-goofs like me something new. Jean-PierreAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-37456273824067061312012-04-18T22:10:54.965-07:002012-04-18T22:10:54.965-07:00Heather, I'm glad you aired your envy. Not onl...Heather, I'm glad you aired your envy. Not only did you expose it but you reconciled it. <br /><br />Goodness the things we keep hidden as artists and human beings. I have had these same exact feelings about the artists who work in similar conceptual and visual realms as myself. <br /><br />It feels good and important to share the dark side of our creative journeys with each other, so that we can all say - I'm not alone!<br /><br />Thanks for your honesty! Good post.Sherri ~ daintytimehttp://daintytime.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-12536559925219163272012-04-18T08:56:54.192-07:002012-04-18T08:56:54.192-07:00I get what you are saying however I think your wor...I get what you are saying however I think your work is uniquely organic in its own right. I agree with Louisa that Ms. Reichek is swimming in a sea of highly polished curation - and that's awesome, that's what has to be done to put up shows in those venues with thoughtful prose. For a long time I dithered with whether or not I should get a fine arts degree. Even while I was getting my MA in art therapy - and the prerequisite fine arts courses that go along with that - I thought about it. Then my friends from the Art Institute told me not to, said the SAIC would suck the outsider artist right out of me and take away what made my work quirky and likeable. <br /><br />I'm currently having a fantasy of giving away all of my possessions and moving to Malfa, TX (although it's probably getting too gentrified as we speak) and just screen printing in the morning and working on my oil bar & wax drawings in the afternoon, then having a margarita. My husband and dogs can come visit on weekends. You will be on the guest list when I "go crazy" and do this. I will remove all mirrors from the ranch.k.somervillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09443560669327285311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-21094109913044819222012-04-17T11:27:46.083-07:002012-04-17T11:27:46.083-07:00P.S. I hope you don't mind that I have linked ...P.S. I hope you don't mind that I have linked your Highly Recommended post to mine re The Book of Symbols?Saskiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10974723368542754165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-29653972407220103542012-04-17T11:08:47.551-07:002012-04-17T11:08:47.551-07:00hello Heather, firstly The Book of Symbols has arr...hello Heather, firstly The Book of Symbols has arrived, I ordered it after I'd read your praise; I am delighted! Secondly, humpf, admiration, straying from a career, comparing oneself etc and so forth, it IS difficult not to,....but it leads to nothing, except if and when one is inspired to act/do/make/create and 'do what only you can do' (we must bravely soldier on, haha)Saskiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10974723368542754165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-85769919004438254322012-04-17T10:10:23.258-07:002012-04-17T10:10:23.258-07:00Yes, Louisa, you are right, I know. This was quite...Yes, Louisa, you are right, I know. This was quite a neurotic posting for me, for some reason I felt like I needed to express the weird combination of anxiety and admiration I have for this artist. Normally I can be clear about who I am and am happy with what I can accomplish, but I went over the deep end yesterday. Forgive me if it seemed like I was using my blog to vent insecurity, I really wanted to direct people to Reichek's work.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17188002198879523397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288094.post-89927459401999204242012-04-17T08:10:47.123-07:002012-04-17T08:10:47.123-07:00Oh my, Heather! IMHO I don't think there's...Oh my, Heather! IMHO I don't think there's anything to be gained by comparing yourself or your work to another's. You will always find yourself coming up short (whether it's true or not) and only make yourself miserable. We are not our own best judges, just sayin'. Besides I bet Elaine Reichek has similar doubts and inadequacies too! And maybe even a ghost writer fluent in ArtSpeak? ;)Louisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685532773952211627noreply@blogger.com