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Back in January I set out to create the series entitled “Transition”. Change is constant, if we like it or not. We might long to hold on to what has passed, but we need to move forward. Or we can’t wait for the future to arrive as the present is difficult to endure. Nothing remains the same and we need to continue to take one day after the next, move through ups and downs, and transition through the phases that life presents us with. |
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I had big goals for 2020. To capture my ambitions, I chose fabrics in rich reds, and deep gold. But turning a dream into reality is hard work, even for an artist who loves being in the studio. Hence, I included saturated browns and various shades of gray. Some days are a little less exciting – if not to say dull. The result was “Transition #1”, created in January. |
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Mid-February, I traveled to Munich, Germany. The first cases of Covid-19 had been reported in that area, but so little was known about the virus and the disease. Few people outside of China seemed to be worried, as the illness initially presented as a “new form of a severe flu”. But as a former scientist in HIV research, the death rate was alarming to me. We seemed to be heading towards the unknown. Therefore, the color palette for “Transition #2” was still rich, but much darker. |
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March became challenging. It was clear that Covid-19 was nothing like the flu. There was a pandemic, threatening lives all over the world. Many people lost family members, their jobs, and we all struggled. But at the same time, I saw a lot of good happening. Here in town, people donated money and food, volunteers delivered meals and schoolwork to the bus stops of under-privileged children, many women and men sewed masks, caps, and gowns for frontline workers, and strangers performed countless acts of kindness. Personally, I strongly believe in resilience. Hence, the colors for “Transition #3” are much lighter again. Pink is my least favorite color. But that’s exactly why I chose it for this art quilt. I wanted to express that we can embrace challenges, that the uncomfortable will not last, and that we will succeed and create something good if we take one step after the other. |
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Now we start the month of August and the pandemic is far from over. Some states and nations make progress in the right direction, while others see an increase in infection rates. We are all longing for things we took for granted in the past, but we need to continue to be vigilant, patient, and kind. We will transition, adapt, and move through this together. Eventually, we will succeed TOGETHER. Wishing you smooth transitions, Christine |
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