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Woman’s Work

January 9, 2008 by Linda Lanese

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This has little to do with felting but I certainly was captivated by the work and philosophy of the artist Lindsay Obermeyer.    I think any mother can identify with her electrifying ideas about a mother and her child.  Lindsay has each picture in her gallery titled with her symbolic meaning for her pieces and put in plain words her ideas to us the viewer in the following; The enduring connection of textiles to the body offers rich metaphorical possibilities for exploring the bond between mother and child. Like a knitted garment this bond can stretch, rip, fray, or unravel as the child grows and matures. It is in a perpetual cycle of mending and loosening until death creates the final separation.Memory knits together the past with the present. Each moment loops and connects with the one prior to it. The adult child is dependent on mother to connect the loops between the newborn and adult self. Buddha referred to these loops of the self as skandas, or skeins, which are loosely, coiled lengths of thread (Gallagher:130-131).Thread has long been considered a metaphor for life. In ancient Greek mythology the Fates determined one’s destiny. They would spin it, fix its length, and then eventually cut it loose when one’s life had come to a close. It is not by coincidence that the Fates are represented in the female form. The severing of the umbilical cord marks the end of one existence and the beginning of another.Knitting and embroidery themselves are creative pursuits compatible with the demands of childcare. As linguist and archeologist Elizabeth Wayland Barber has noted it is “… repetitive, easy to pick up at any point, reasonably child-safe, and easily done at home” (30). Like women for thousands of years, I can put down my work to attend to family matters and easily resume it at a later time.

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Have you read?

Waffa Birds from Living Felt! A Colourful and Free Tutorial!

Wooly Wednesday - 2023 Episodes

 

Got some free time over the holidays?  I think you might just love these colourful birds that you can create, give, share and learn excellent techniques from!  Named Waffa Birds or (Wild and Free Fiber Art) Birds these little … Read More ...

Felting Patterns and Ideas

I am Linda your Felting Editor. These are the best felting craft ideas, patterns and techniques that I have found. I hope you have fun exploring these and the rest of CraftGossip!

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