I'm Working on a Project: Blogger's Quilt Festival: Anonymous

It's time once again for the Blogger's Quilt Festival, hosted as ever by the indomitable Amy from Amy's Creative Side. She does such a great job of hosting and gathering sponsors and it's really one of the premier online quilt shows anywhere. I really encourage you to click through and see/comment on the fabulous entries.

This quilt is my entry in the Art category. For my regular readers it'll be familiar as a recent finish, but I'm excited to have the opportunity to share it with a wider audience.

This piece began as my attempt to work abstractly, inspired only by shapes and colors. As I worked though, I slowly saw a person emerging. Others have seen a large bird or other abstract designs. My nameless faceless person can be anyone you wish, though in my brain she is always a woman. Some have said she looks like a desert dweller, or is reminiscent of a character from science fiction; maybe from the dunes of Arakkis or even a Jawa from Star Wars. In any case, one of my favorite things about abstract or semi-abstract work is that there is room for many different interpretations.

The quilt is entirely pieced (not applique) and the central portion is a completely separate entity, pieced/quilted/faced on its own. It was then stitched down to the separate dark blue background, again a fully finished "quilt" that serves to frame the central image. I really had a fun time working on this project. It was so different from the way I usually work, and forcing myself to commit to a design process I wouldn't normally use was very rewarding. For more details on the project, you can check out the tag.

Anonymous, c. 2016, Shannon Conley, 34"w x 45"h

My artist statement for this one is short and sweet: In remembrance of women throughout the world who remain voiceless, oppressed, judged for their choices, or stripped of their identity. In solidarity of those of all faiths, or no faith, who choose inclusion rather than anger.