Trying to decide what to include in my new Instragram account, I have been reflecting upon the body of work I have created for nearly thirty years.  |
| Fruits from My Garden" 1996, 25"x34.5"/64cmx87cm, machine pieced, appliquéd, embroidered and quilted. |
My first thought: I do not create my art to make a living. I create my art to live, which allows me to invest as much time as necessary on each piece (frequently months, often years). I am unable to assign a monetary value to any of my work because each one is priceless to me, each one is a part of me, an extension, an expression of my inner being and the environment I live in.
My second thought: I tend to work big although there are smaller pieces along the way as well. The larger format allows for an expansion of ideas that other materials, such as paper or canvas, cannot accommodate.
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| "Oranges from My Garden" 1996, 43"x38"/1m09x96cm, machine appliquéd, pieced, embroidered, and quilted. |
My third thought: I work in thematic series that extent over decades. It seems to me that now is a good time to consider these strands of thought and how they have developed.
The "My Garden" series began when we moved to a rural region outside of Tunis (now just another suburb) and we had a huge garden to create.
Many artists have noted the intense light and colors of Tunisia, which influence my vision.
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| "Geraniums From My Garden" 1998, 42"x52.5"/1m07x1m33, machine pieced, appliquéd and quilted. |
And for a long time, my small Singer sewing machine was my best friend, as recorded in one of my journals.
