What makes your tatting art?

The question arose again as I told a friend about my donation piece. I have no authority like a degree or financial success to argue that my lace is “art” or even that it is not a “craft” to be relegated to various pigeon holes. In my quest for trying to talk about what I do, I’m usually reading something about music or art. I’m currently trying to read a Google Books version of Eye of the Painter by Andrew Loomis. The author makes a distinction between “pretty art” and beautiful art. He talks of the difference between commercial art and fine art. Of course, this method is focused on painting only. He even says something can be pleasing as in a piece of embroidery or a design on wallpaper, but not really art. My reaction: Sigh!

My tatting strives to get people to think. About music, about how things can look, about remembrances of what they have heard. I hope it is pleasing to the eye. I hope it can be displayed in a home or office. I hope it stretches what people recognize as lace just a bit. Is it “art” or just…..?

I’ve decided I will create. For me. For the odd person who likes my ideas. I’ll leave the designation of “art” to others who seem more inclined to argue and parse than to enjoy.

Bottom line: Support the arts. Put in a ticket for my piece in the Fundraiser (link when it opens) and enjoy music represented in lace.

Turn in time

It’s time to turn it in: my donation piece to raise money for Carmel Bach Festival. As always, no pictures of the piece you can bid on, but here’s a small portion: 

Pictures of the full piece will be taken by a professional and posted when the show opens. I’ll be sharing links soon.

History really does matter

Those of you who follow this blog regularly know that Ialways keep one eye turned to what has been done before.  You also may have noted that I do not insist on any one particular method of tatting, not one particular method of learning music. Since the history of tatting has been obscured through time, and no two organs are alike, I don’t spend a lot of time on how to, I just try to focus on results and what works this particular time. Lest you wonder, I am highly critical of my own efforts. I record myself regularly when practicing, photograph my tatting from all angles, and seek out comments from those who know and from those who have never experienced the process. I may not have strict methods, but I operate on the knowledge that details matter. That’s where History comes in.

I feel we must know from where we come so that we can focus our energies and resources on what will matter in the future. It’s exciting to me to find out what other people have created. Sometimes I don’t like it. Sometimes I can’t get enough. So, I spend quite a bit of time listening tomusic, visiting museums, reading and watching and soaking it up. I hope that those efforts are not just wasted time, but the chance to discover what someone has found important. All that is to say, I don’t have pictures of what I’ve been tatting, I don’t have videos or sound clips of my organ playing, lately I’ve been playing with a lot of ideas.

I will share a link to a rather fun look at an organ competition: https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/videos/pipe-dreams/

This is a 55 minute show following several young organists as they compete in an International Competition in Canada. You’ll see a wide variety of organs, although nothing is shared about the individual instruments. You’ll see a wide variety of backgrounds, although nothing is shared about where the young people are now. You’ll hear a wide variety of music, although most of the clips are just highly edited snippets. 

If you want more, you’ll need to spend a fair amount of time on Youtube and other surfing. Since this competition is held every 3 years, you’ll have lots of time before the next one. In the meantime, please seek out local musicians and artists whether or not they enter competitions. We’re starting to get back to doing what we do best.

Enough

Enough introspection! Time for music and lace:

I’ve been reading a thesis written for a Master’s Degree in Music Education. The premise is that teaching basic aural skills in music is enhanced when color is assigned to musical ideas. Quite fascinating and I’ve a list of materials to find for further reading plus a list of people to write to and ask after ideas I’ve come up with. Music and lace. Seems more possible now.

Here’s what came from my shuttles most recently: 

I will start on figuring out the border next. If anyone recognizes this pattern, please let me know. I feel certain it has been published before. I’ve looked through my books and done a bit of research online, but have not found any hints yet. Anyone????

Oh, and June 2020 will be Glorious!!!

A pleasant surprise

This is the gift my Secret Stitcher gave me!

She described how she made it with a small loom like the Weave-itloom I have. I’m so pleased!!!!

Glory

Just a word. We can use it as a noun or verb. Add a few letters and Glory becomes Glorious. Will June 2020 be Glorious?

A different June

June 2020

This will be a different June. The June of my youth was a time to rest, shift gears to summer, to do something different. The June of my adult years has been a time to shift a bit, engineer a bit of family vacation, shift gears to summer, and clear up after another year of school activities. This June will be a different June.

I’ve been clearing up. I’ve shifted gears already. I’ve been doing things differently. I keep hanging on to what I can: walks by the Bay, exploring organs and organ literature, tatting new designs. Will it be enough?

I think that’s my take-away from June 2020. Enough is different this year. Staying healthy is enough. The rest is Glory.

What fun!

This is part of the design idea I’ve had for a while. Not sure how I’ll use it, but it was just so much fun to create! I’m considering tatting a pair of earrings using this idea. But, what colors?

Another group of tatters loose on the world!

I had fun! And all tatters accomplished something. The most experienced student completed a study in thread size. The tatter who has been tatting just 6 months completed almost the entire pattern. She added beads in the center parts. Her choice of colors worked nicely too. The other 3 students came away with successful rings and chains. I can’t wait to see what else they create.

Celebrating those successes has made it easier to ignore the ugly in the world. Illness has not touched anyone I know personally, but the violence has touched where a friend works. He was “blindsided” as he and his family were unplugging to enjoy some R & R. I pray that his rest isn’t “left undone” for long. We will need all good leaders in the next few days.

I’ve also been immersing myself in a new design. I’ve almost completed a test tat. No pictures until the auction starts. That should be in July. More info, like how to buy tickets, as the time approaches.