52 WAYS TO LOOK AT THE RIVER
52 Ways to Look at the River
I’ve lived near the Susquehanna River for most of my life. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time visiting its shores and hiking the adjacent trails. It occurred to me that there was something new to notice every time. With that guiding principle I undertook an ambitious project to document my observations.
Beginning on the 2015 summer solstice and continuing uninterrupted for a year, each week I visited the Susquehanna River somewhere along its course and took pictures. Back in the studio, I chose an image and interpreted it in a 6” x 12” fiber art panel. The panels are on a wool/rayon felt base and are primarily needlefelted with wool and silk fiber, with some added applique, and were machine and hand stitched. I wrote about the process and illustrated it extensively on my blog at: http://suereno.blogspot.com/search/label/52%20Ways%20to%20Look%20at%20the%20River
At the end of the 52 weeks, I began assembly of the panels. I handpainted fabric and quilted it to form a background. Each panel was appliqued onto black felt and then stitched on the quilt. I added hand beadwork with glass beads and semi-precious stones.
Needlefelted panels with wool and silk, on hand-painted and quilted background, with hand beadwork.
Size: 72”h x 82”w"
For Sale: Please inquire
Exhibit History
Art of the State, Pennsylvania 2018, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg PA
Flora, Fauna and Flow, solo show of 30 art quilts, October - December 2017, Olewine Gallery, Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Millersburg, PA
Sue Reno: Life Along the River, Narrative art quilts depicting the Susquehanna River and its environs. 2017 Solo show at the Pennsylvania Arts Experience Gallery, York, PA