Midst of Chaos MNI-QUILT SERIES
COVID
QUILTS, Covid Series, 2020, pieces, wholecloth, black, red, bleached black kona cotton
Covid Series
2020
Abstract discharged fabric. Original design representing unity in the foreground with chaotic shapes in the background. Quilted with cotton and metallic threads.
Top Row, from left to right:
1) The Long Road
2) Sticking Together
3) Finding the Way
Bottom Row, from left to right:
4) When Paths are Clear and Unclear
5) Unity in the Midst of Chaos
Midst of Chaos MNI-QUILT SERIES
COVID
QUILTS, Covid Series, 2020, pieces, wholecloth, blue, white, bleached copper kona cotton
Covid Series
2020
Abstract discharged fabric. Original design representing unity in the foreground with chaotic shapes in the background. Quilted with cotton and metallic threads.
Top Row, from left to right:
1) The Long Road
2) Sticking Together
3) Finding the Way
Bottom Row, from left to right:
4) When Paths are Clear and Unclear
5) Unity in the Midst of Chaos
Midst of Chaos MNI-QUILT SERIES
COVID
QUILTS, Covid Series, 2020, pieces, wholecloth, blue, white, bleached copper kona cotton
Covid Series
2020
Abstract discharged fabric. Original design representing unity in the foreground with chaotic shapes in the background. Quilted with cotton and metallic threads.
Top Row, from left to right:
1) The Long Road
2) Sticking Together
3) Finding the Way
Bottom Row, from left to right:
4) When Paths are Clear and Unclear
5) Unity in the Midst of Chaos
Midst of Chaos MNI-QUILT SERIES
COVID
QUILTS, Covid Series, 2020, pieced, wholecloth, black, copper, bleached olive kona cotton
Covid Series
2020
Abstract discharged fabric. Original design. Quilted with cotton and metallic threads.
Top Row, from left to right:
1) The Long Road
2) Sticking Together
3) Finding the Way
Bottom Row, from left to right:
4) When Paths are Clear and Unclear
5) Unity in the Midst of Chaos
Life Series
24″ square (w/h) x 7/8″ (d)
2020
PAINTINGS, Life Series, 2020, acrylic on wood, brown, tan, gold, pink, white
Artist Statement
Abstract representation of a restless human spirit. This restlessness continuously fuels the drive of the creative to keep shining in a world of tumultuous skies and torrid lands.
Ocean Water Waste No. 1
WATER Series
Fiber and paper textured with gesso, acrylics and inks on wood
12″ square
Mixed media representing ocean pollution
2020
PAINTINGS, Water Series, 2020, Fiber and paper textured with gesso, acrylics and inks on wood, blue, white
Ocean Water Waste No. 2
WATER Series
Fiber and paper textured with gesso, acrylics and inks on wood
18″ square
Mixed media representing ocean pollution
2020
PAINTINGS, Water Series, 2020, Fiber and paper textured with gesso, acrylics and inks on wood, blue, white
Ocean Water Waste No. 3
WATER Series
Fiber and paper textured with gesso, acrylics and inks on wood
12″w x 24″h
Mixed media representing ocean pollution
2020
PAINTINGS, Water Series, 2020, Fiber and paper textured with gesso, acrylics and inks on wood, blue, white
Ocean Water Waste depicts the huge problem of ocean or marine littering. I have made quite a few water paintings as water and land are my favorite earth elements. These three pieces are beautiful like our real oceans in spite of the litter dumped on them. This reminds me of our human spirit. Even when we are dumped on (esp. in pandemic times), our essence is still exquisitely beautiful.
This series honors our oceans and brings some attention to their degradation by pollution. Unfortunately, their exquisite beauty does not exempt them from reckless and the oftentimes negligent actions of their caretakers. I sincerely believe that our humanity is not only in our treatment of each other but in our treatment of the most precious resources entrusted to us.
Fabric Happy
MOSAICS Series
fused
20″w x 16″h
Fused commercial cottons – Kona, batik, mottled, hand-dyed. Stretched on canvas.
2020
QUILTS, Fused Series, 2020, fused, multiple colors
making aesthetically beautiful work made a valuable contribution to society and culture
Norman Lewis (1909 – 1979) was technically the first African-American abstract expressionist painter and teacher.
He lived in Harlem all of his life and was born to Bermudian parents. Lewis maintained studio space at the Harlem Art Center and participated (along with Jackson Pollock) in art projects for the Works Progress Administration or WPA. The WPA was a massive effort in the 1930’s under FDR’s New Deal agency to put unemployed people back to work.
Norman started painting mostly figurative art about the plight of Blacks in America with subjects like the bread lines of the poor and police brutality. Then, in the ’50’s, he switched to a more abstract style that celebrated the aesthetics of art. He often felt pressured to make works that reflected the plight of the Blacks in America. He felt that his goal of making aesthetically beautiful work made a valuable contribution to society and culture.
His most famous work is Migrating Birds which received the Carnegie International Award from the Carnegie Museum. Norman Lewis was the first African-American to receive such an award. A New York Herald-Tribune writer stated that the artwork was the most significant event in the field art for that year.
“…the goal of the artist must be aesthetic development, and in a universal sense, to make in his own way some contribution to culture.” (Norman Lewis)
I’m so pleased to be able to attend the first comprehensive museum exhibit on Norman Lewis’ work by the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art at the end of March. The exhibit goes on until April 3rd so I plan to just make it. Afterwards, it will travel to Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas and then onto Chicago, Illinois.
Last week I received the exhibition catalog from the PAFA (Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts) show of Norman Lewis. It is a wonderfully detailed, well-written book that is a whopping 288 pages. The art pieces are in full color and many cover a full page!
In reading and researching the wonderful tidbits, I’ve learned that Norman Lewis actually had an estimated 2,500 works. In addition to paintings, sculpture and drawings, he also completed some quilts! Impressive. He was a true artistic spirit…willing to experiment with many different mediums.
![[INSPIRATION] PEOPLE – Abstract Expressionism – Norman Lewis (1909 – 1979)](https://angelaheathart.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/image_norman-lewis.jpg?w=292&h=454&crop=1)
What Inspires Me About Norman Lewis
I completely connect with his sentiment in making beautiful art in that I,
too, make "beautiful" work. Even though I strive to make soulful abstracts;
over the years, I've often felt that I needed to make work that spoke to
the problems in our society. I see many other quilters and painters doing
that and have often felt guilty for not saying something "more
substantial". Deep down, I feel that every artist makes a contribution.
That is the beauty of art. Everyone has something to contribute. So, the
beautiful scenes of Water Lillies by Monet are just as important as the
Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. - Angela
angelaheathart.com 