Thursday, August 1, 2013

Thursday Thoughts...

The grid is very peaceful. Nothing can go wrong. Everything is complete. 

Louise Bourgeois

I have to say this quote speaks to me the moment - peacefulness, completeness, and all being well.  I am encouraged by that possibility and that notion.

And truth be told, I also love grids and wonder now if that is because they seem quiet and ordered and peaceful; and somehow that soothes my mind or settles it somewhat.

I love squares and grids; my mum loves organic and free flowing shapes and designs. It's always amusing when we are looking at fabric together and we instinctively head to opposites...

I think grids are nicely ordered, but they also seem to me to be about individual pieces making a whole. They often allow for small pieces to be part of something bigger and with more impact. They seem to let individual pieces breathe and be themselves, yet join with other pieces that are sympathetic.

At the moment, I just feel as if I could gaze at a grid all day and that would centre me.



One of the combinations and permutations from my last book collaboration with Susan.

18 comments:

  1. These are lovely - so calm and centred - and perhaps with a hint of ancient writings on stone.

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    1. Thank you Charlton - I find them restful as well; and these are hierogyphically oriented aren't they?

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  2. As long as the grid has so much to look at. This one fits the bill nicely!

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    1. I think you're right Roberta - blank grids aren't nearly as interesting, and in some ways aren't soothing as they can become annoying! I like this one tho!

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  3. I love grids, too... this one is particularly wonderful. In my 2-D Design class, I assign a project on grids. It starts with a very simple 9 square grid and then gets more and more complex. Its a wonderful way to teach students about the concept of unity and how to maintain a sense of unity with increasing degrees of complexity and variation. I love that about grids - from simple to complex, visually, they hold things together. Happy August!

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    1. As is often the case, I think your comment is more valid my thought! It sounds like a fascinating exercise, and sums all I was pondering without knowing! Go well.

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  4. I am more a of an organic flowing type but I find a grid useful as a flowing off from starting place. Grids for me are hard as however carefully I measure I seem incapable of drawing a straight line.

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    1. Thanks Debbie - they are useful in some ways to some; I smiled at your straight line problem; it's not mine, but then I have more trouble breaking out!

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  5. i love Fridays. I come on line to see what that Thursday Thoughts lady is going to put forward for us to think about. So often it seems pertinent to where I am or what I am thinking. Today is no exception ....... I am an odd combination of mathematics and artistic. I love order and chaos combined ..... grids within the loose line or loosely arranged marks within a grid. Out here at the edge of the desert I see how grid like things are - the need to contained and organised for survival - nothing too wavering (or wavy?) out here.

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    1. Hi Susan - happy travels! You are good at blending order and chaos and it always seems to work beautifully! I can imagine the land you are in is quite organised - fence lines, roads, all straight and no wavering...travel safe.

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  6. Love the rhythms and spaces here. Feels like I could play each square.

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    1. I love that Annie! I'm off to bed with a smile on my face!

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  7. I love grids - always have - I suspect I always will.... they bring order to the chaos.... ahhhh if only there was a gird to apply to life ;)

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    1. I am so with you on that Ronnie. Right night, I'd love a grid in my life!

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  8. Your grid is full of exciting elements. I've been gazing at it for quite a while. Though they seem simple I find it can be quite time consuming to balance a grid of many elements. (I'm thinking of my carved patchwork quilt). Wishing you all the best for your exhibition, Fiona.

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  9. I like that about grids Robyn - they are deceptively simple; a lot of work goes into getting the balance and harmony right, a bit like life I guess!

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  10. I love grids, I find they really help me organize y thoughts, and this one is a gem Fiona!....and I am stealing the Louise Bourgeois quote, even if it's not totally true for me!

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  11. Feel free to pilfer that quote - it really works for me! I love your grids - you are in fact the grid Queen Liz!

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.