I love the unexpectedness of the varied works in “A Common Thread,” the 22nd annual member exhibit at the Textile Center of Minnesota, July 26-October 15, 2022. My tapestry, Bonfire, is hanging in the hallway directly in from the entrance to the building.
I wove the bonfire in wool to celebrate a pandemic family vacation in 2020. Mike and I, along with his daughter Maggie, her husband Matt, and our three grandchildren, rented cabins in Wisconsin for a week. It was our first foray out of our Covid pod. Everything about the pandemic was new and scary. Both Maggie and Matt are doctors, and Matt was treating Covid patients. We waited in a long line of cars for drive-up tests at a local hospital. (Remember the first time a swab was jabbed up towards your brain?) Our reward was a week filled with walking in the woods, swimming, finding frogs in the lakeside grass, and playing detective with Charlotte. She and I skulked around the edges of the yard and dashed from corner to corner of the garage, hiding from the rest of the family on the lawn. (I don’t think they were even looking for us.) And I made bonfires!
Arthur loved watching twigs fall from a tall flaming tower while eating ice cream. I made the ice cream sandwiches again last week, and Arthur was equally enthusiastic.
Some other fun items at the “Common Thread” exhibit:
Earlier posts about the bonfire tapestry:
“My Bonfire Tapestry is in England.” (9/24/21)
“Bonfire, Complete.” (3/15/21)
“Four Months to Warp a Loom? It’s about Time.” (1/7/21)