Sue Reno

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

 About the Susquehanna: Archaeology of the Lower Susquehanna River reveals that American Indians had utilized its resources for thousands of years. Around 1550 AD, the people we know as the Susquehannock moved from higher up the river to the Lower Susquehanna Valley. The Susquehannock were Iroquoian speakers and shared many similarities with the Iroquois in New York. Learn more here.