byzantine splendor

Did you read Amy Ropple's article in the latest QA "All that glitters....Byzantine Inspirations"? I was truly *captivarted by her contemporary take and interpretation of such an encrusted, bejewelled period of history/art history. She's also started a website/blog that deals with "Art History For Quilters", but i think it's applicable to all visual artists, mixed media, textile, sculptural and jewellry afficionados as well. So far, she has notes about Byzantine and Egyptian design.

*captivarted---i was going to correct the spelling, but it seems appropriate to leave it!

I love the Byzantine era; when i started playing in the SCA, my persona was a 12th C Byzantine widow. The article also reminded me that i have yet to finish this:

"Byzantine Self Portrait", started in Aug of this year. I think with some of the stuff i have learned lately, i can do it justice now in completing it :} Constructed by machine of painted lace and lutrador, it needs some handwork and heavy beading.

It also made me dig through the packed boxes for this:

Made in 94, it was part of the Alumni show for that year's Textile Arts "crop" at Capilano College. At the time, my forte was intricate machine applique, so the threadwork on this one is rather vague and undefined, but again, it could be added to and "finished" more in the proper style. It was based on some indistinct second hand photos from an old art history book---there wasn't a lot of info available and i wasn't online then! I actually wore it twice with my Byzantine garb to a couple of feasts. Scratchy around the neck and hard to keep sauce off of! The photo above is a detail---i have to dig through some boxes to find the actual whole piece to photograph again. (The above was scanned before i ever had a digital camera.)

This one i have only a photo of:

And actually since i wrote most of this entry  on Saturday, here's the Byzantine Self Portrait with some work added.

I've added the original "frame" i was going to use, with so far some machine stitching of the programmable type, and some stitched copper. Still lots to go! The copper pieces will be further embellished also. This is the lower left corner. I found some copper bouillion wire that unfortunately you can't see in this photo---find the camera--scanning leaves the light and shadow so flat!

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And stay tuned still for the Mysterious Missing Entry that showed in your reader but not here :}