On a bulletin board posted near my desk I keep clippings of art that catch my attention. Some of the clippings have been tacked there for many years. One of those images is of an untitled work by Jasper Johns from 1998. Although he is known for his American flags, targets, and linked to Pop Art paintings, he created other abstract works as well. In this painting he has disrupted the pattern of diamonds with several of them blending with the borders. The canvas is split: diamonds on one side, a chalkboard-like panel on the other with line drawings in white. A string hangs loosely from the upper left to the lower right as if to tie the two disparate panels together.
I stitched with variegated embroidery thread, interested in the contrast between the larger solid diamond pieces and the stitched outlines at a slant.
Diamonds are traditionally used as patterns in quilts, a pattern I had not yet explored. This exploration took its own path, an homage to Jasper Johns: Untitled, 1998, and stayed true to the disruption of tradition that recently has been interesting to me.
The quilt's title, Harlequin, is based on the trickster and servant from the Italian commedia dell'arte, notably costumed in diamond patterns, who also wore a black half-mask, and carried a slapstick. In old plays, although perhaps not this one, the clown or fool often spouted the most wisdom.
Harlequin
23.25"w x 42.75"h (60 cm x 106 cm)
hand-dyed cotton, linen, velvet; handpainted; appliqué; machine pieced and hand quilted
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