Renewal

Acquired
Renewal

Renewal centers on a stately phoenix in antique Japanese indigo tsutsugaki-dyed cotton. On the reverse, I used striped indigo cotton with a plaid zanshi patch, which gives the piece a different rhythm.

Both sides carry a couple of original repairs and patches, with sashiko stitching added by me.

This is a larger pillow, and I wanted it to have real presence. The cover itself measures 21.5" high × 21.5" wide. With the 28" × 28" insert, it settles into a depth of about 6". The insert has a cotton cover with 65% polyester and 35% cotton fill.

I backed the antique fabric with heavyweight cotton canvas for reinforcement, finished the inside edges with overlocking stitches to help prevent fraying, and added a zippered closure.

There are also slight areas of discoloration along the seams of the phoenix that reflect the fabric’s age and history.
Renewal

Nearby works

Other works from the studio

Nearby works that carry the same language of wear, repair, and time.

Into the Blue

Into the Blue

Into the Blue came together in my Brooklyn studio from antique Japanese cotton fabrics dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s, including katazome resist-dyed indigo and bengala iron oxide-dyed cloth.

View full narrative

Garden Groove

Garden Groove

Garden Groove came together from antique Japanese katazome fabric with an indigo-dyed floral pattern. I added a single hand-sewn patch and backed it with canvas for reinforcement.

View full narrative

Scripted

Scripted

Scripted is made from beautifully faded antique Japanese tsutsugaki fabric from the early 1900s. What gives this piece its character is the Japanese script across the surface.

View full narrative