What do I think?
I have an affinity to silk.-----many people do. In the textile world, silk is the queen. There is a silk for every technique. It can be sheer, opaque, smooth, textured, neutral, colored brilliantly or with reserved elegance, frayed, clean cut, and dozens of other properties.
But what if I mutilate it? take away it's hand? kill a quality that others find so wonderful?
Have I done wrong? Or have I used this precious textile in a new way for a new idea? Will I be condemned because I have sacrificed one attribute to enhance another? I want to freeze it into position! I want to change it's texture yet enhance it! I want to use it because this piece of raw silk will work for me in this piece as no other fabric can. So I will destroy properties that so many love to create something new and perfect for me and my creativity and expression.
There is a dilemma facing textile artists who wish to change traditional textiles into something different. Glue Grandma's crochet, cut up Aunt Mary's table linens, quilt Mom's hankies. There is respect for the original, fabric, hand work, memories in the use, and joy of owning a family piece or a collector's find. Where is it dishonor to re-use? When does re-use or modify become destroy or exhibit loss of appreciation for the item?
Will I weep over the loss of this white raw silk when I go through my stash? No.
Will I be energized looking at my finished piece? I hope so.
Or would society or fellow textile buffs be unhappy if I collage my grandfather's watercolor onto masonite?
Perhaps society is not ready to cut up tradition or change the familiar into the unexpected.
This fabric vessel was skinned with white raw silk. I patted the gel gloss onto the fabric to maintain the bumpy texture of the fabric. I like it.
Sumac by Margaret Adele Parker---
