tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post1751853769162277247..comments2024-03-11T06:27:38.308-07:00Comments on AND SEW IT GOES: Abstraction and RepresentationTerry Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16650965451863656517noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-60637462746161246792014-03-06T18:17:22.341-08:002014-03-06T18:17:22.341-08:00I would argue that quilts have LONG been abstract ...I would argue that quilts have LONG been abstract and in fact representational quilts are fairly new to the scene. Think about some traditional quilt square patterns and their names, often the name doesn't resemble anything like what is depicted, except in the most "abstract" sense (Road to California, Shoo Fly, whatever). Contemporary quilting likes to think it has a lock on abstraction, but let us recall the Gee's Bend quilts whose abstract quality is profound.<br /> I also agree that we over categorize in all aspects of life unnecessarily.<br />Terry's quilts evoke an abstraction of representation and something else that cannot be categorized easily. That's what makes them hers. That's what makes them special. That's what makes them important.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14089450956117845427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-40176623207596518722014-03-03T18:02:55.677-08:002014-03-03T18:02:55.677-08:00I was just discussing this with another artist yes...I was just discussing this with another artist yesterday. I think people interpret the definition of abstraction in a variety of ways. The way I think about it, based on my education, is that abstraction starts with something "concrete" or real, an object or landscape or whatever and you abstract from there - in varying degrees (from a little to an extreme). <br /><br />I don't see it as the same as non-objective (or non-representational) where an artist is maybe experimenting with something like drips of paint, for example (think Jackson Pollock). <br /><br />That's how I look at it, even though the definition of abstract art in my Dictionary of Art Terms states: "Art which is either completely non-representational, or which converts forms observed in reality into patterns which are read by the spectator primarily as independent relationships, rather than with reference to the original source." <br /><br />I guess that is why people use the term abstract to also refer to non-objective (non-representational). I still think they are two different things. <br /><br />I think your work is abstract and representational. I don't think one is easier or harder to do. I think some materials may or may not be easier to use for one or the other, but I don't think that makes the work any easier in either. <br /><br />I agree there is an art to curating a show, as opposed to just hanging a show. Separating groups of work into the two categories doesn't allow for a comparison or interaction of those works. Maybe there would have been two pieces that complimented each other and would spark an interesting discussion.<br /><br />Most of my artwork is abstract and more to the extreme side. When I do something more realistic, like in an original print, people are surprised or say that doesn't look like my work. I think there is still some abstraction there, it is just more representational.<br /><br />We could really muddle the discussion by adding Abstract Expressionism or, as you mentioned, conceptual art.Lisa Flowers Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03255748017497273887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-27641838928778231112014-03-02T04:43:34.725-08:002014-03-02T04:43:34.725-08:00You always give me something to think about and po...You always give me something to think about and ponder. That's the sign of a true and gifted teacher. Thanks.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532721287686146185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-87865482037976145472014-03-02T04:42:19.496-08:002014-03-02T04:42:19.496-08:00You always give me something to think about and po...You always give me something to think about and ponder. That's the sign of a true and gifted teacher. ThanksJanethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532721287686146185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-43866929310300911762014-03-01T10:47:36.030-08:002014-03-01T10:47:36.030-08:00Just want to say I love your work whatever you cal...Just want to say I love your work whatever you call it! I would not say that abstract or non-representational art is "easier," but I do think that representational work that is "off" is more visually disturbing to me, if you know what I mean. I'm thinking of those fabric portraits I've seen where one of the eyes is just not right and the whole piece bothers me. Now if one square inch of a non-representational piece were off, it would be much less apparent. Or think of those landscapes where the perspective is just enough off to look clumsy, but not enough off to look deliberate. I was on a jury once when another juror implied I was biased against the realistic pieces. I think it was just that the mis-steps jumped out at me more with those. But mostly, I don't think the labeling is terribly helpful-- much less the upstairs/downstairs "sorting" described in the show.Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604870601188882461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-26521927459116274412014-02-28T03:10:33.586-08:002014-02-28T03:10:33.586-08:00I find true representational art to be much easier...I find true representational art to be much easier than abstract work, but that is really just because that is how I was brought up. Every one in my family drew THINGS and I know my parents did not like modernist abstract art, so that is how I grew up. Over the years, since, I have begun to understand abstract art more and can even attempt it for some ideas, but it will always be easier for me to represent reality.<br />The point you made about the realist/abstract continuum is important, I think. Where your work sits on the continuum, is your choice as an artist. Whether the work is categorised as one or the other by administrators, is their choice. Because this "Abstract art" is relatively new to quilt and art quilt shows, it will take time for more than two categories to develop (perhaps)<br />What was called "Abstract Art" before the twentieth century, now has a plethora of subroups so your pieces would find a home, I'm sure<br />It is certainly not a simple black and white decisionVicki Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08756936181545589388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-19739372068306550492014-02-27T21:05:52.460-08:002014-02-27T21:05:52.460-08:00Terry I appreciate your thoughts and questions her...Terry I appreciate your thoughts and questions here, and loved the funny story that Leah mentioned about the cleaning lady. I think the difficult thing is if the artist of abstract needs to make it just clear enough someone to recognize or identify with what it is... how does he or she know how much that is? It's different for each different person isn't it? In music one person might be able to identify a familiar tune with hearing only 5 notes while someone else might be able to recognize is in 2 notes. To me it's all about the reaction and interaction by the viewer. Personally I keep trying to abstract my work, but I get bogged down in details... I need to let go a little more. Again, thanks Terry!DonaleeKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03011367561539805520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-4960749175838401072014-02-27T20:40:00.836-08:002014-02-27T20:40:00.836-08:00I like your abstracted representations of fire and... I like your abstracted representations of fire and trees. They straddle a line but in a most delightful way. I think of my work as "non-representational" then when someone sees a shape or I happen to insert something with a shape, someone tells me, "I thought you were doing abstracts". It seems difficult for many people to look at work that they can't categorize. I guess that it makes them uncomfortable. Caroline https://www.blogger.com/profile/11922845492859767410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-45021889156238824162014-02-27T18:58:21.106-08:002014-02-27T18:58:21.106-08:00You can't convince me to thick differently bec...You can't convince me to thick differently because we already agree (as usual)! I also agree with all those quotes to one degree or another. I guess I tend towards the representational, but I am moved by the conceptual -- or at least the concept. I don't think that fabric lends itself specifically to abstract, but I really hate a lot of "realistic" work done in fabric. That's probably because most of it is really amateurish.Kristin Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-51547821868493989822014-02-27T17:36:20.282-08:002014-02-27T17:36:20.282-08:00That's a pretty funny story. Rather than too r...That's a pretty funny story. Rather than too representational or too abstract I think it must have been too much like trash! Is that what they mean by "conceptual" art? Yet another category!Terry Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16650965451863656517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-25899449522795180252014-02-27T17:17:32.762-08:002014-02-27T17:17:32.762-08:00I just want to say that I have always loved your c...I just want to say that I have always loved your campfire piece and think it is very inspired.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14089450956117845427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16634800.post-84523514534853143722014-02-27T16:48:23.618-08:002014-02-27T16:48:23.618-08:00Oh! What about representational work that by it...Oh! What about representational work that by it's title is expressing an abstract concept?? :)<br /><br />I like that Georgia O'Keefe quote. I think that when there is enough representationalism in the work to make it understandable, it is easier for more viewers to appreciate/understand. What is "enough" is relative.<br /><br />Here's a funny story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/woman-mistakes-art-for-tr_n_4830529.html <br />Was it too representational? Or too abstract? LOL<br /><br />Leigh in Portland (we are not burning down)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06372544021604211747noreply@blogger.com