Sunday, March 1, 2009

Improvisational Bead Embroidery as Conceptual Art


My February BJP has taken the form of Conceptual Art. With this, I believe I must have have moved from Craft to Art. I first became acquainted with Conceptual Art during a visit to the National Gallery of Art in 1994. It was all new to me, since Conceptual Art had not been, well, conceived of when I took Art History some (many) years ago. I knew immediately that I was destined for Conceptual Art. And it was destined to be mine. It was perfect. For Conceptual Art, all you had to do was think of your art. You didn't have to actually do it.

Which brings me to my February BJP. I have thought of it. I even picked out the raspberry beads. I just haven't done it yet. I hear you skeptics out there. "Slacker," you say. "Not done on time. Tardy. Procrastinator." Not so. It's real ART! I refer you to this article in The Real Source of All True Knowledge.

If the February BJP is Conceptual Art, several other projects are Partly Finished Art. The front of the little red doll is finally done. I need to attach the back, stuff her, and bead an edging. The back will not be beaded. I'm hoping she'll be done when my book group shows up here in 10 days.


The front of the aqua ornament is done. Again, I have to sew the back on, stuff it, and bead the edging. This is a commission--a birthday gift for someone's mother. This will be done by Wednesday, when I will see the giftor.


This is the front of the back cover for the book (in screen form) that I am making for the online Sampler Book class I am taking through Joggles. It is two layers of tissue paper fused to felt. Then I did a running stitch with a variety of decorative embroidery threads, with some beads. On the right side is the start of the beaded edging. I am using a curved needle to sew these beads on. I hope I develop some more skill by the time I finish. I feel like a total fumble fingers now.


And this is the back of the back cover. Again, two layers of tissue fused to felt. The medallions are paper clay. I made holes in them so I could sew them on. I will glue the lace on as the last step.


For those who asked, I like taking online classes. I like time to ponder the options and I like the freedom to use the lessons to go off in my own direction. I'm definitely a "read the directions to learn" person so it works well for me. I'm not sure it would work for a "show me how" person.

12 comments:

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Wow, your beading is so beautiful. Do you mind if I refer to it in the future for inspiration?? LOL Both pieces are beautiful.

Marty S said...

Carol,
Feel free!
Marty S

Marty S said...

And thanks, Carol.
Marty S

Brenda said...

I love the concept of Conceptual Art!
Your beading and your books are beautiful.

flyingbeader said...

LOL! I too have so many Conceptional Art pieces! You should see my work station with so many project sitting there in the TO DO phase. I know what they are going to look like when finished. Does that count??

dot

Robin said...

WOW, Marty, your book reveals what a fantastic artist you are... and so does the red-is-red-is-really-red doll! I read all the way down your posts to get every picture and tid-bit of process about your book, which sends me straight to heaven... no words to say how much I love it! I also enjoyed your musing about the color red and I too have found it to be a troublesome color when it comes to either paint or beads, especially transparent versions.

OK, have I been avoiding a certain topic? Yup... While the concept of conceptual art is appealing to me, I'm confused about it and confused about your Feb. BJP... I assume you don't have an actual, physical piece... does the photograph of the materials represent the piece? If we had an exhibition of our BJP work, what would you give us for Feb? Obviously this concept is new to me and I don't yet see how it fits the BJP guidelines, except that it's obviously a journal of your month, maybe not a visual journal, rather an internal journal. Do feel free to write more about this.... (ie. HELP!)

Robin A.

Susan Elliott said...

I'm in the Conceptual ARt camp for February too -- I've beaded it in my head and I know it doesn't count for squat -- I guess if I could draw, I could at least do a rendering.

At least you made another beautiful spirit doll, I LOVE your dolls, doll.

beadbabe49 said...

I'm not sure I understand it either...I thought in conceptual art the concept is more important than the execution BUT there is still something made?
Like most installations are conceptual art...you see a pile of dirt on the floor but the concept behind it is what makes it "art"...

pam T said...

I just like the red doll, no matter whether conceptual, a doll, just plain boredom beading, or what! She's very cool. I guess I will have to read further and figure out what conceptual art is first! LOL.... sounds like lots of thinking...

GraceBeading said...

LOVE your red doll Marty, she is perfect from top to bottom. I don't know that I have beaded much using red, this certainly inspires me to think in that direction.

mariami said...

WOW! great!

lorrwill said...

oh so glad I found your blog. These little treasures are gorgeous.