Lost Languages Series

​There are several 'modern' ways of communicating that are soon to be lost.   Shorthand is no longer used to transcribe what a person is saying.  Morse Code and Telegraphs have been replaced by texting.  Maritime signal flags are no longer used at sea to communicate.  Cursive writing is not being taught in schools, and will soon disappear.  I am drawn to the shapes and lines that can be found in these languages.   I explore visual ways to pay homage to these lost communication systems.

Change, Not Charity (Liberty Hill)
Size: 2ft x 6ft
This commission for the Liberty Hill Foundation is visually represented Morse code for "Change, Not Charity", which is the Foundation's motto. In most of my Morse code pieces, cursive letters are stitched into their corresponding Morse code symbols.
Materials: Dupioni silks, artist dyed cottons, cotton batting and backing, thread.
Techniques: Fabric dyeing, machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Community
This visually represented Morse code artwork reads "Community".
Materials: Cotton fabric, procion MX dyes, thread, stretched frame.
Techniques: Deconstructed screen printing, applique.
Sold

There Came A Time WhenThis visually represented Morse Code reads "There Came A Time When", which are the first words in the Anais Nin quote, "There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom". The quote is quilted in cursive onto the background fabric.
Materials: Dupioni silks, artist dyed fabric, cotton batting and backing, thread.
Techniques: Fabric dyeing, machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Art Is Communication
The visually represented Morse code reads "Art is communication".
Materials: Dupioni silks, artist dyed fabric, batiks, cotton batting and backing, thread.
Techniques: Fabric dyeing, machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Hope
The visually represented Morse code reads "Hope".
Materials: Dupioni silks, cotton batting and backing, thread.
Techniques: Machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

What Hath God Wrought (blue)
The visually represented Morse code reads "What hath God wrought?". These words were the first official telegraph that Samuel Morse sent.
Materials: Dupioni silks, artist dyed fabric, cotton batting and backing, thread.
Techniques: Fabric dyeing, machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Art Is Communication - Detail
The visually represented Morse code reads "Art is communication." In this detail you can see the cursive letters stitched into their corresponding Morse code letters.
Materials: Dupioni silks, artist dyed fabric, batiks, cotton batting and backing, thread.
Techniques: Fabric dyeing, machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Carpe DiemThe visually represented Morse code reads "Art is communication".
Materials: Dupioni silks, Japanese fabrics, cotton batting and backing, thread.
Techniques: Machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

What Hath God Wrought?
The visually represented Morse code reads "What hath God wrought?". These words were the first official telegraph that Samuel Morse sent.
Materials: Dupioni silks, artist dyed fabric, cotton batting and backing, thread.
Techniques: Fabric dyeing, machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Carpe Diem Deconstructed
The shorthand in this piece reads "Carpe Diem", Latin for "Seize the Day".
Materials: Cotton fabric, procion MX dyes, stretched frame.
Techniques: Deconstructed screen printing.

Carpe Diem The shorthand in this piece reads "Carpe Diem", Latin for "Seize the Day".
Materials: Artist dyed cotton, batik, cotton batting and backing, thread, frame.
Techniques: Reverse applique, fabric dyeing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Dear Friend
This is a practice letter from the Gregg Shorthand Manual Simplified for secretaries learning shorthand.
Materials: Linen fabric, batik, embroidery thread, frame.
Techniques: Hand embroidery.
Sold

Dear Mr. Dunn
This is a practice letter from the Gregg Shorthand Manual Simplified for secretaries learning shorthand.
Materials: Linen fabric, batik, embroidery thread, frame.
Techniques: Hand embroidery.
Sold

Dear Mr. Hale
This is a practice letter from the Gregg Shorthand Manual Simplified for secretaries learning shorthand.
Materials: Linen fabric, embroidery thread, frame.
Techniques: Hand embroidery.
Sold

Gentlemen
This is a practice letter from the Gregg Shorthand Manual Simplified for secretaries learning shorthand.
Materials: Linen fabric, batik, embroidery thread, frame.
Techniques: Hand embroidery.
Sold

Matriarch Letters – Rachel
From my shorthand series, this is an imagined letter from the biblical matriarch Rachel to her sister Leah.
Materials: Hand rusted cotton, cotton batting & backing, thread
Techniques: Rust dyeing, hand guided machine quilting.

Matriarch Letters – Rebecca
From my shorthand series, this is an imagined letter from the biblical matriarch Rebecca to her husband Isaac.
Materials: Hand rusted cotton, cotton batting & backing, thread
Techniques: Rust dyeing, hand guided machine quilting.

Matriarch Letters – Sarah
From my shorthand series, this is an imagined letter from the biblical matriarch Sarah to her husband Abraham.
Materials: Hand rusted cotton, cotton batting & backing, thread
Rust dyeing, hand guided machine quilting.

Be Courageous
Size: 48” x 28”
From my marine signal flag series, this piece reads “Be Courageous”.
Materials: Dupioni silks, backing.
Techniques: Machine piecing.

Hope
From my marine signal flag series, this piece reads “Hope”.
Materials: Batiks, artist dyed fabrics, cotton batting & backing, thread.
Techniques: Fabric dyeing machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Carpe Diem
From my marine signal flag series, this piece reads “Carpe Diem”.
Materials: Dupioni silks, cotton batting & backing, thread.
Techniques: Machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold

Be Present
From my marine signal flag series, this piece reads “Be Present”.
Materials: Batiks, artist dyed fabrics, cotton batting & backing, thread.
Techniques: Fabric dyeing, machine piecing, hand guided machine quilting.
Sold