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Artist CommentaryLabel
"For me, quiltmaking offers an endless challenge to the compelling need for unique self-expression. There are no boundaries, other than the ones I set for myself. The design for this quilt resulted from an integration of my favorite images – the circular nature of the Mariner’s Compass design and the rich colors and complex designs of cotton Ikats. The name comes from Astronomy, and is the term used to describe a phenomena which happens very rarely – two stars coming very close together and forming what appears to be one large star."Label
Donated by the American Quilter's SocietyLabel Type
Object LabelLabel
"The design of Heliacal Rise resulted from an integration of my favorite images-the circular nature of the Mariner's Compass design and the rich colors and complex design of cotton Ikats. The Ikats come from various countries, Bali, Southeast Asia, South America, and I have collected them for years before understanding how I might use them. It occurred to me that a kaleidoscope effect could be achieved by utilizing the Ikats in the Mariner's Compass. Having selected a yellow Ikat for the biggest points in the compass, I then hand-dyed the dark green background because I specifically wanted random spontaneity of the coloration. Once the large, central compass was complete, I searched for ways to create an asymmetrical design, which I felt would be more interesting to the viewer. The result was the banded, off-center 'tilt,' and the spiral shape which extends the large image into another compass."
"At that point, it became clear to me the design would be complete by using smaller, partial pieces of the Mariner's Compass pattern, which would appear to wind around the inner border. I used some silk fabric to establish an additional background in the spaces between the outer border, and the 'tilted' section. There are only 10 templated used throughout the entire quilt; the drawback is that each piece must be placed exactly on the same place in the repeat design--which is how the kaleidoscope effect is achieved. I use a combination of machine and hand-piecing because I am more precise hand-piecing the smaller pieces (and I rather like hand-piecing as something I can take with me while traveling). The final border is made of African mudcloth--a fabric made by handpainting the geometric design directly onto coarsely woven cotton."
"The quilt is machine quilted, using the free-motion technique to somewhat follow the lines suggested by the Ikat designs. Since I cut out quite a bit of the silk fabric from behind the backs of the Mariner's Compass, I used the odd shaped pieces by cutting them into circles and putting them on the back. I like to use fairly heavy fabric in the back of my quilts, i.e. decorator weight, plus warm and natural batting. My feeling is that the front needs all the stability it can get, due to the differences in the amount of quilting used in various places on the quilt."