Vanessa Filley and I are taking a week or two off of The Inhabit Project to catch up on our main work. We've been going for one month strong and a little break will help us build up some new ideas. You don't want our brains turning into this, do you?
And so last week I focused more on the Foreclosure series and started a new piece (those are the remnants above). Lots of cutting, stitching, washing, reassembling.
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| Detroit Foreclosure Quilt in progress, 2011. |
There's a twist to this piece that is based on Detroit neighborhood maps. When I looked at the lack of foreclosures shown on the RealtyTrac site, it didn't make sense. Wasn't Detroit one of the hardest hit areas? Yes, but you have to look at the aerial photos to see the true story. Shocking and sad. Entire blocks have been razed as all the homes were abandoned. Hence, no more foreclosures. Just emptiness. What will happen? Who knows.
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| Detroit Foreclosure Quilt in progress, 2011. Map from RealtyTrac. |
There are vast expanses of lots removed in this piece. It takes on a different character than my previous work. And doesn't the image on the right remind you of my last post on Blinky Palermo? I had planned this piece before I saw Composition with 8 Red Rectangles. Really interesting how completely different ideas can lead to a similar outcome.
9 comments:
You really make me think Kathryn. I do wonder what is happening in this country. The other day I paid $70. for the most measly bag of groceries you've ever seen, and I've got to wonder where it's all heading.
very sad but what a great project you're workng on. looking forward to seeing it finished.
oh check this out: http://www.book-by-its-cover.com/handmade/levels-and-degrees-of-light
I was on holidays for a week so a late thank you for your comment on my "corners of my home".
I'm catching up a bit slow :)
Yes indeed i agree it's a great project but very sad daily life.
Thank you all for your supportive comments. It really means a lot to me. Yes, it is a sad moment we're in these days, I think too few of us are aware of the seriousness and I hope to call it to attention.
Sophie, a wonderful addition to a similar outcome! Thank you for the link!
Sigh... And add that to a lot of still abandoned city centers anyway... What a waste!
Very sad indeed. My soon to be college graduate daughter, who has landed a great job at a law firm, with a very good starting salary is looking for her first apartment. Today we had our first showing. Unfortunately it turned out to be in despicable condition, owned by an obvious slum lord asking an exorbitant amount of money for it. He was telling us this was the best we would ever find for the money, and she was foolish to think she could get better. I know it was pure BS, (and I wanted to punch him for trying to scare her into renting that hell hole) but truthfully, I am shocked at what apartments are going for and how someone with no dependents, making good money is still going to be on a very tight budget just to make ends meet. I am afraid that the American Dream is becoming just that... a dream.
Victoria, so sorry to hear what you had to endure. It's shocking to me how people can be so heartless and selfish.
Kitty, oh my, yes, the US has so many abandoned city centers. And now everyone is leaving the 'burbs too. It's just an all around mess and I don't see an end in sight. Working as an urban planner, we fought tooth and nail to change the way our cities have become ... there are some success stories but oh, so few.
It's strange how we can see the news everyday and not know what's really happening at all in the countries around us, even in USA...
I live in Spain and here we have problems with foreclosures, too. But I've never heard about "entire blocks being razed".
That's stunning and sad, but a good inspiration for your work...
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