Baltimore Sonnets

Flowers for Mistress Overdone  This is one of the books I presented at my talk at the Folger Shakespeare Library this month.   I wanted to explore Mistress Overdone's character through art.  With just 15 lines delivered by Mistress Overdone in a rather long play, Measure For Measure, it was a very welcome challenge to offer a compelling artistic translation of Shakespeare's vision. 

What a wonderful time we had on Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 11:30am - 4pm at the Folger Shakespeare Library's historic Reading Room . Leah Thompson , Public Humanities Manager introduced my project. It was a pleasure to discuss the two-year long community project working on images for Shakespeare's Measure For Measure. I gave a 45 minute talk highlighting conceptual and technical aspects that are essential to successfully translating  Shakespeare through art.  My focus was the minor character Mistress Overdone in Shakespeare's play Measure For Measure. From 3pm - 4pm, the group and I gave live demonstrations of our particular needlework practice. All of the artists brought three projects they are currently working on. What a joy to share our experiences creating textile designs inspired by Shakespeare's text.  

Coded Threads: Translating Shakespeare Through Art Folger Library Sat, Nov 16 from 11:30am to 4pm Join us for a day of presentations by a group of leading Maryland fiber artists who have been working with Folger Institute Artist Fellow Suzanne Coley on modern needlework designs inspired by Shakespeare's Measure For Measure.

  Handmade textile book by Suzanne Coley, 2023 “The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up. None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing”.    Toni Morrison

 Explored the intricacies of couture constructions and fabric manipulation techniques at the Fashion and Textile Museum , London. Christian Dior, 1954 Pierre Balmain, 1960s Pierre Balmain, 1960s Bellville Sassoon, 1960s Bellville Sassoon, evening gown Bellville Sassoon, designer Lorcan Mullany Chanel, Haute Couture, 1960s Absolutely wonderful experience examining original designs by leading designers!  Can't wait to use some of these techniques in my couture books.