erin endicott: the healing sutras...

to stitch; a thread or line that holds things together
   --the literal translation of the ancient Sanskrit word "sutra".

chelliswilson. is absolutely delighted to present artist Erin Endicott's first exhibition in Maine.

Erin Endicott's Healing Sutras are a form of iconography, borne of a personal examination of the idea of inherited psychological wounds, and how those wounds insinuate themselves into our lives. The idea that the inherited wound---patterns of behavior and reactions---are seeded into our psyche at birth. And that, over time, this "seed" attracts harmful energy (like attracts like) and grows, creating an area of dense negativity and darkness in our physical bodies. For Endicott, the reparative act of "working through" involves making these wounds into visible, visceral objects. Endicott's personal history is incarnate in each of the Healing Sutras----the "canvas" for each piece being vintage fabrics passed down from the women in her family. The initial marks of the "wounds' are created by staining the fabric with walnut ink. This natural dye literally "grows" an organic shape in a distinctive earthy tone when applied to the damp fabric. Endicott sees this first step, with its variations in tone and shape, as creating a map of sorts for each piece. The painstakingly slow process of stitching each sutra has an almost ceremonial quality to it, and becomes a "rite of healing". These marks are copiously symbolic---vein/roots, cellular/seed shapes, the metaphor of the dress as skin---imbuing these beautiful objects with myriad layers of emotional and intellectual meaning.

The Healing Sutras have been exhibited at Anagnorisis Fine Arts in New York and at the Textile Art Center in Brooklyn, among other national and international venues. Healing Sutra #3 won the "Best in Show" award at Fiberart International 2010, a juried exhibition organized by the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh. Endicott is one of four featured artists in the Emerging Artists Showcase in the current (Summer 2011) issue of Fiberarts Magazine. Erin Endicott holds a BFA degree from Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia.

In addition to The Healing Sutras, two series of Endicott's works on paper----The Story Unfolds (graphite and antique paper) and Art of Dressmaking (ink on antique paper) will also be on view.  Please join us for the opening reception during the First Friday Art Walk, August 5th, beginning at 6pm. The evening will also be our re-emergence from our "under construction" mode, giving you opportunity to meet my new partner, designer Georgia Deveres, and to see the changes we've made to the space. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer evening---Prosecco, treats, and the opportunity to be astonished by the truly extraordinary work of a most gifted artist. See you Friday!

ioneta for chelliswilson. presents "found" (part 2)

   "ghost quilt"

   boro detail

 stack of zabutons
chinese burl brushwash

another boro detail...

wall of vintage vernacular photographs 

 
This is such a diverse and personal collection!  What I've shown here is just a sampling, but I hope I've managed to convey the spirit of the show---I really love having it here.

ioneta for chelliswilson. presents "found" (part 1)

ioneta for chelliswilson. presents: "found"

a curated grouping of indigo textiles, mid-century pottery, and vintage vernacular photography

on view until april 30th 2011

gorgeous indigo boro futonji (sold) and a "ghost quilt" we created from examples of zokin, patched boro, and a katazome diaper!

 a captivating, ethereal sculpture by artist & antique dealer, ross levett

 a heavily patched noragi (work coat)

zanshi-ori (left over threads) striped piece

roll of asa fabric (mosquito netting)

asa kaya patched boro

All these stunning pieces are available for purchase---call the shop or email chelliswilson@gmail.com for pricing. 

be a noble beast....

 Boro detail. (thank you, Lisa) "Boro" means "rags" in Japanese. In the midst of this long winter, I am comforted by the thought, at least in this instance, that "ragged" and "beautiful" can be synonymous...
 
Earlier this week, in response to a particularly overwrought email from me, a very wise (and beloved) person wrote: 

How does one relate to a society that pays more attention to Charlie Sheen's ongoing nervous breakdown than it does to the care of its hungry children?

And then I read this.   And then I decided I needed to seek out substance. And so....

Culture Stops!  Tomorrow.

Friendship. The refreshing substance of my friend, Georgia. A woman who comes bearing good wine,  thoughtful books for my daughter, a Thierry Mugler skirt, a fierce intellect, and a book of matches, just for me, from here. Georgia is a dancer. Which reminds me of the substance of discipline:

Ballerina Project.

If we are tired of being cold (and we are), it's time again to go here, to Butch's place, for a substantive celebration.  Maybe, if we're lucky, Natalie will teach us to love our thread.

Use art to turn the world inside out. The substance of JR. Support this extraordinary work here.

The beauty of an artist in her studio.

Closer to home, my vote for Maine's most fascinating woman of substance.

When I was a child, my mother, always in a black turtleneck, eyebrow arched, cigarette in hand, would admonish the oft-misbehaving family dog to "be a noble beast". I was not immune from receiving this directive as well. If my daily life becomes too sodden with the trivial, I hear her voice in my head and this credo....a reminder to change course.

And be a noble beast.

the "things" speak....

Possessor

At the approach of winter we are there.

Better than friends, in your sorrows we take no pleasure,

We have none of our own and no memory but yours.

We are the anchor of your future.

Patient as a border of beggars,

each hand holding out its whole treasure,

We will be all the points on your compass.

We will give you interest on yourself as you deposit yourself with us.

Be a gentleman: you acquired us when you needed us,

We do what we can to please, we have some beauty, we are helpless,

Depend on us.

W.S. Merwin


The title of that poem is "Things". Maybe that's what should be on the sign out front.....

new on the board....things and otherwise....

oh, ingo....

ps

while it may not be very "presidential", the 25% off online sale code will remain "hellolover".

make of that what you will....

the oldest magic word....

 

 Cy Twombly: "The Wilder Shores of Love" 1985

hello, valentine....and fellow fools for love everywhere.....

To celebrate this day for longing, swooning, lamenting, mooning. kissing, canoodling, and crooning....

all clothing and jewelry will be 25% off this week in the shop and online with the code "hellolover" (what else?)  So send someone by who wants to be your valentine (or be your own valentine!).

To put you in the mood....

A love letter.  And two songs by Nina. Love found. Love lost.

And don't forget to put your chocolate fingerprints in all the right places....

chief nourisher(s) in life's feast...

Well, Macbeth may think it's sleep, but not I.

Hello, dear reader. Thought it was about time for something substantive to appear in this space.  And while "chelliswilson." is not a personal blog per se, I am still the person behind it. And this person's "personal" has been a tad chaotic of late. Upheaval has reined supreme. At such times, when all one's miseries are clamoring for center stage, whatever is done for pleasure (gasp!) is rendered frivolous and shunted down the "to-do" list.  (Exhibit: this blog)  Fortunately, before I devolved into a completely morose character, I reminded myself why I read beautiful blogs and devour glossy periodicals---for the nourishment.  And, suddenly, blogging didn't seem so trivial after all.  If anything found here has bolstered up someone's dark day, reminded anyone why beauty was important, or given any beleaguered soul a sense of kinship, then that's more than enough reason to carry on.

And, so, I'd like to offer up a small sampling of the visual treats responsible for buoying up my little soul these days.

If I were to have an "architecture baby" with a certain west coast doppelganger, this is what it would look like.  Oh, and sexually speaking, this may be the architecture equivalent of the best orgasm you ever had...

Perfect chocolate. Earnest and true.

Miuccia. These are a few of her favorite things.

A taste of spring. English and French. Oh, and by the way, Miss Meg (who is 13) wants every piece of Chanel Couture Spring 2011....except two.  A small request, n'est-ce pas?

Imke surpasses herself. Jaw-dropping.

Mady Dooijes' infinitely inspiring tumblr, abandunce.

Everything Barbara Munsel.

Dateline "Ducktrapia".

Perfectly lovely online shopping. One. Two.

Yumiko Sekine's sane and ordered world.


Included in an imaginary letter beginning "Dear Benefactor"....

Wit rendered in Limoges.....fantasy baubles.....theatrical knickers....extraordinary flora.

And, last but not least, Rome.  Photo courtesy of my traveling son. 

And, of course, you, dear reader.  You bolster me most of all. Thank you.