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"As a botanist and an environmentalist, I have always been intrigued by the way non-western cultures depict plants and other natural objects. The art of these people, who are often much closer to the environment than we are, gives an insight into the various ways humans interact with the natural world around them. I was first introduced to Hawaiian quilting in 1986 and immediately fell in love with the abstract, natural rhythms of these quilts.
For my first Hawaiian quilt, I chose to depict the Silversword plant. Endemic to the lava slopes
on these islands, Silversword is listed on the United States and worldwide endangered species lists. For me, Silversword was a metaphor for the fragility and imperiledness of the unique plant and animal species and human cultures throughout the world.
In constructing this quilt, I tried to follow as closely as possible the Hawaiian quilting traditions. Although the pattern was not original, I modified the design and the title slightly in keeping with Hawaiian etiquette. I found all aspects of the construction process to be extremely relaxing,
particularly the echo quilting which traditionally is not marked beforehand -- it is supposed to flow like waves on a beach or ripples in a pond. By using the traditional techniques, I fee]
as if I gained an insight into the Hawaiian culture -- and it helped cure my dependence on straight lines and measuring.
The title of the quilt is in honor of the Silversword plant itself and of Otto Degener, the foremost plant taxonomist in Hawaii and author of the definitive catalog of the island's plant species, Flora Hawaiiensis."Label Type
Artist CommentaryLabel
“My work has been influenced by indigenous cultures which produce textiles that are not only beautiful, but utilitarian, designed to incorporate art in everyday life. My goal is to create something decorative and functional. All of my quilts are designed to be used on a bed to provide warmth. I emphasize natural products in both the raw materials (batting, fabric, thread) and the tools that I use. Also, I use organically grown cotton that has been dyed with natural or low-impact dyes. In this way, I hope that my quilts will not only provide warmth for this generation but for healthy generations in the future.”Label
Otto Deneger, American botanist and conservationist, 1899-1988
Born in New Jersey but from his college years onward lived in Hawai'i. In Hawai'i and across the Pacific he studied and collected more than 136,000 species, including more than 900 threatened species. His massive collection of specimens and writing was left to the New York Botanical Garden in The Bronx.
Silversword (argyoxiphium)
A plant genus represented by approximately 50 species mostly in the state of Hawaii on the islands of Maui and Hawaii. They are shallow-rooted and highly sensitive to disturbance. After European habitation of the islands, the plants became favorite forage for goat and sheep herds and all became endangered. The East Maui Silversword is apparently extinct in the wild. The Mana Loa Silversword survives as a result of the Hawai'1 Volcanoes National Park acquiring land in the 1990s and planting 20,000 seedlings. The Mana Loa Silversword produces a 9 bloom stalk after 10 to 30 years' growth. Within weeks, seeds are produced and the plant dies.