Stretch, Breathe, Relax

STRETCH, BREATHE, AND RELAX

2002
45" x 41"
NOT FOR SALE

fiber reactive dyes and textile paints cotton, linen, silk, tulle metallic confetti, metallic ric rac, metallic and rayon threads silkscreen and block printing, various hand applications collage construction machine stitching and quilting glass beads hand sewn onto surface

STRETCH, BREATHE, AND RELAX is a work commissioned by my yoga teacher. We agreed that the ohm symbol got plenty of recognition and that we'd do something else for her quilt. I have always been drawn to the spiral, both for its beauty and for its symbolism. My teacher agreed that it would be just the right thing to set the mood for yoga classes. She liked the idea of a strong yellow spiral and requested purples for the background. I also added some specks of aqua here and there to play with the aqua window trim all through her teaching space.

The quilt is hung right at the center of a large wall, and my teacher facilitates the class directly underneath it.

The quilt is a quiet, yet strong and calming influence in the room. It is so wonderful for me to attend weekly classes and to see my work there. Sometimes I even focus on it for minutes at a time, sort of using it as a mandala for meditation.