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Iron Spine Aloft

Iron Spine Aloft billowing on the front lawn of the Rye Arts Center

A few blog posts back, I spoke about seeing plastic trash flapping in the trees along the roads in my travels. I have reinterpreted that imagery by creating a public art installation, made from plastic, that is gracing the front lawn of the Rye Arts Center, strung between two trees. Iron Spine Aloft can be seen as you drive by the arts center until the end of April. Feel free to stop in and enjoy it up close. Make time to go inside and see Fiber Now: Textile Artists on the Cutting Edge, in which five of my pieces are presented alongside the works of eleven other talented fiber artists. Do email me, if you're in the neighborhood. Perhaps I'll be able to meet you there and we can talk art, stitching, texture, recycling and the circle of life. You can also join me for two BYOB workshops that I'll be teaching on March 21st and 28th.

I am hoping to continue creating large-scale public art installations created from repurposed plastic. I am working on a series of proposals to further this endeavor. Raising public awareness about the excess of single use plastic in our society and the problems of litter in our environment are at the forefront of my art practice. If you know of an institution to which you think I can submit such a proposal, please let me know. I welcome your input.

I have posted a few videos of the installation on Instagram and Facebook for your viewing pleasure. I'll be posting more in the near future, as well as a more substantial video detailing the creation of Iron Spine Aloft from start to finish, which I will post on my YouTube channel when completed.

Iron Spine Aloft detail

Iron Spine Aloft detail

something different

My friend Jane always challenges me. She's very good at it. Come to think of it... I think she might be responsible for planting the seed for all my 3D artworks.

And here's the latest one. Jane provided the wood block, as she's good with power tools also. And I covered the wood block with my art. I repurposed some older work that no longer felt right, used up some scraps from other pieces, added a ton of hand stitches. I'm pretty proud of what came to be. It's kind of raw and different and mine at the same time.

Urban Tower (three views) Natalya Aikens © 2016

Urban Tower Natalya Aikens © 2016 

By the way, you can see Urban Tower at the Nest Arts Factory until November 15th.

the little hump backed horse

Hello! long time.... Happy New Year!

As you might imagine life has been busy. The projects in the pictures below have consumed my life for the past two months. It was fun, challenging and hard work. And now it's done. Here's proof (in order of appearance on stage):

Ivan and the magical horses

Magical horses again

Ivan and the Little Humpbacked Horse find the Firebirds feather

the bazaar scene

storytellers

The Tzar arrives

the Tzar and his Attendant

the Firebirds dance

and dance some more

I love this blurry image of the Firebird being captured

The Tzarina Maiden

the Moon and the Sun

the Fishes

Fish begging forgiveness from the King Whale 

more Fishes

The Tzarina Maiden with her Prince Ivan magically transformed 

storytellers

my favorite colorful players

how adorable are they?

and for good measure the Moon and the Sun again...

That was a lot of pictures I know, hope you enjoyed them, I could have posted many many more! Here's the English version of the story if you would like to read it.
Now off to clean up my studio and make some art!

Oh and I must confess... I stole all these pictures from my friend Ekaterina who painted the fish heads and horse heads for me. I have an excuse! I was back stage helping with costume changes! And she did give me permission. Really.

craven lane

My latest home portrait is ready to be shared! I shared it on Monday with my newsletter subscribers and as promised sharing more close ups on the blog today.

As you all know, I love the new challenges that come with each home portrait. The challenge with this one? Card stock was an adventure to stitch through! And this portrait was comprised mostly of wedding cards... I was delighted to stitch through the lace from the wedding dress and enjoyed figuring out the stitch shorthand for the stucco texture of the house.




Here are a few detail shots followed by the full image...

the diamond windowpanes

frosting like edge by the window

stucco stitching

roof shingles and the maid of honors words

wedding day blessings sky

top of the front door

Craven Lane © Natalya Aikens 2015

Hope you have enjoyed following along! Whose home will be the next portrait? Hmmmm....we'll see....
And now back to costumes!

a wedding present

I am starting work on a new home portrait this week. The best part of each and every home portrait to me is just how different each one is from the previous one. Not only are the homes different, the materials different, but even the reasons for the portrait are different. This one happens to be a wedding present. Newly married, newly home owners, embarking on a wonderful new life together... What could be better!

Here is the ephemera that I have been given to work with:

I printed out the scale version of the newlywed's castle

made a sketch. And I'm loving diamond grid window....

the pineapple wrapping paper references the diamond window grid nicely

I have some beautiful cards to work with also

and perhaps even the lace from the wedding gown...hhhmmmm....

Lot's of options. Now how to put them into a cohesive whole? Hopefully I'll have that figured out by the end of the week. Stay tuned!

spruce street

A new beginning. For a new home portrait. I am honored to be working on this new commission which will attempt to preserve a memory of a childhood home...

as usual I am in love with the ephemera put into my possession

brocade and burlap make me happy

a page from a book and old photos

hand dyed linens? what a treat!

lovely daisies and sturdy upholstery fabric

and birch bark!! yes birch bark! I'm so excited to stitch it!

shall I use the image with the flagpole just like the old photo?

or the one with the lamp post?

what about the glorious red maple?

or the lovely rock wall in the garden?

I have many many decisions ahead of me. Right now I'm fondling the fabrics, petting the birch bark and staring at photos. Something will start jumping out at me soon. Stay tuned!