Indigo; willow bark; coffee filters; milkweed
Though not a truth
universally acknowledged--
universally acknowledged--
willow bark: dried (right); dried then boiled in washing soda water (left); dried, boiled as above then dyed with indigo (center)
it sometimes happens
that here in the studio--
(or just outside
where drips can be ignored,
that here in the studio--
(or just outside
where drips can be ignored,
giant balls of willow
serve as handy
oxidizing racks,
serve as handy
oxidizing racks,
and days unfold
at the whim
of whatever materials
place themselves
in my hands),
at the whim
of whatever materials
place themselves
in my hands),
willow oxidizing ball-- inside view
those self-same materials,
now and again,
find themselves
in want
of the color blue.
now and again,
find themselves
in want
of the color blue.
So blue
is the thing
that happens.
is the thing
that happens.
Milkweed cordage -- two values of indigo (multiple dips).
Now a few phrases back
(somewhere in the midst
of a lengthy parenthetical aside),
I used the word whim,
as though flax, milkweed,
willow, walnut and wool
are full of caprice,
individually and collectively
leading me this way and that--
(somewhere in the midst
of a lengthy parenthetical aside),
I used the word whim,
as though flax, milkweed,
willow, walnut and wool
are full of caprice,
individually and collectively
leading me this way and that--
boiled willow bark; indigo
-- a cohort of cheeky puppeteers
tugging at my hand
and heart strings,
as I,
the marionette,
dance to their tune.
tugging at my hand
and heart strings,
as I,
the marionette,
dance to their tune.
And it might well be so.
The materials don't feel
even remotely passive,
and I have no idea
where this is all heading--
or why, suddenly
(in the midst of other plans),
everything needed to be blue.
The materials don't feel
even remotely passive,
and I have no idea
where this is all heading--
or why, suddenly
(in the midst of other plans),
everything needed to be blue.
Wrist cordage (right to left); boiled willow bark after two months on my wrist; milkweed after two months; boiled, indigo willow bark after one day.
Indeed, after decades
of thinking myself in charge
of the materials I select
and the stories I tell--
of thinking myself in charge
of the materials I select
and the stories I tell--
Milkweed cordage, (green gathered and winter retted) approx 1700 - 2000 yards per pound; indigo
it feels past time
to acknowledge--
or even more,
to relish--
the reciprocal nature
of these things that I do--
that we all do--
to acknowledge--
or even more,
to relish--
the reciprocal nature
of these things that I do--
that we all do--
and to put whatever
knowledge and skills
I have gathered
(ever noticing
to my delight and chagrin,
how very little I actually know),
in service to
this cooperative venture.
So, blue it was.
And now?
knowledge and skills
I have gathered
(ever noticing
to my delight and chagrin,
how very little I actually know),
in service to
this cooperative venture.
So, blue it was.
And now?
"Now,"
says the Praying Mantis,
"you can go away
and make some more cordage
with those busy busy hands of yours
while I return
to admiring the view."
says the Praying Mantis,
"you can go away
and make some more cordage
with those busy busy hands of yours
while I return
to admiring the view."
