The boogie-woogiers, group 3.

This is the final group of boogie-woogiers. If you missed group 1 and group 2, I think it's worth following the links back to see how other artists are getting out "what's in them." 

Many thanks to all who participated in this inspiring journey of stories and images -- both to those who shared and to the rest of who followed in a long, snaking boogie-woogie line. The call out is officially over, the curtain has closed on this series. There may be an encore in the future of this blog, however, so check back if you think you hear some heels clicking on the stage.

One night I was layin' down, 
I heard Papa talkin' to Mama, 
I heard Papa say to let that boy boogie-woogie. 

'Cause it's in him and it's got to come out. 

          ~ John Lee Hooker 

And yes, here's the last of what came out:

The flight of fancy.

"... the use of Sheers here make it a fragile and one time thing. I am not sure I could ever sell in in fear it will start to deconstruct. It is also a bit of a journey of a typical quilter starting with the "maze" of straight line quilting, from which we need to free ourselves. Then learn some prideful fancy free motion quilting. Then decide to cover all that with some stretched out renditions of flying geese. There is a second color on the underneath that does not even show unless there is a bit of a breeze. Somehow all of these stages just HAD to be done."

Alice Henley

Alice Henley, "Icarus"

Alice Henley, "Icarus," detail.

The heavy journey.

" ... I have always in the past been able to use sewing as a distraction, but it had not been going that way lately.  I know by getting this chaos out of the way, that I can move forward, but this will certainly be a progressive piece until the end is reached [...] my boogie-woogie is a journey that will be long, but will also be a time for healing."

Lynn Langley

Lynn Langley, work in progress.

Lynn Langley, work in progress.

Lynn Langley, work in progress.

Lynn Langley, work in progress.

The nourishing.

"... When I finished my first naturally dyed square, a door opened through which I glimpsed tablesetting as ceremonial placemaking. The tablecloth itself was the first one that took on its own life as I made it, moving from a simple design based on my backyard clematis to a textile echoing with barely ascertainable associations ... like sinking Venetian palazzos or Sleeping Beauty's castle. Unseen elements like those that made our dinner parties so varied and engaging became apparent in the cloth and I realized that those elements, like roots, permeate everything. The weather, the season, the occasion, the ancestors, the taboos, the craft traditions, the aesthetic judgements, the interpersonal connections, the life and the love ... all weaving together to underscore and enhance ordinary daily existence, including dinner. My boogie woogie is making table settings that elicit life when we gather to share food, seeking nurturance on many levels..."

Dana Webb

Dana Webb, "Clematis." Table linen.

Dana Webb, table setting.

The love affair.

" ... The first (collage landscape was) inspired by my missing my granchildren who lived in California and I lived in Tennessee at the time.  Looking out the window on my plane ride back home, I thought of distance, miles, and a cloth slowly formed in my mind, a landcape of  the heart.  It took me a long time to  stitch and an ever longer time to get over my angst at the back side of my cloth that looks like a thread road map that is falling off the cliff but this first big, dyed and stitched cloth of note has  sparked a continuing love affair with dye, cloth, needle and thread."

Marti Weisbrich 

Marti Weisbrich, collage landscape.

The final powerful beat.

"... when I first heard Roderick singing 'A Life of Crime' with his band Sourpuss back in 1976 I wanted to illustrate it.  35 years later I got 'round to it [...] we will launch the limited edition of 100 hand coloured copies in September of 2016 at Artsite Gallery here in Sydney with an exhibition of the original drawings, accoutrements & a gathering of musicians from the past 40 years, it will be a party!"

Mo Crow

Mo Crow, "Life of Crime."

Mo Crow, "Requiem."

Oh all you Boogie-woogiers, you rock. Thank you for taking the time to contact me and share your work. I'm inspired and blessed by your creativity and words. Someday we'll go shake up that rickety stage again.

The original post is here: Boogie-woogie. Get down.