Weekly update: Scraps for Edna

Edna Andrade (1917-2008) was a Philadelphia-based artist known for creating op art.  I first saw her work in 2014  at the Philadelphia Museum of Art ( this trip ).  I thought immediately about  adapting her geometric designs to fabric.  Later that year I received a review copy of an exhibition catalog, called "Edna Andrade," edited by Diane Bricker Balken.  (Locks Art Publications, c2015.)

Andrade wrote, "In using geometric structures for organizing visual elements I make a connection with an ancient tradition in art. Artists have always used the pure and powerful archetypes: the circle, the triangle, the square, the pentagon and endowed them with symbolic content. I feel a kinship with the anonymous artists of the past who painted pots and tiles, wove baskets and carpets, stitched vestments and quilts. They send me precious messages without words."

Last week when I began to sew scrappy 2" squares together I recalled Andrade's work.  The alternating 2" squares are scrappy lights -- mostly cream but also other lights. I had enough of the cream-on-cream for sashing and a border (cut 2", finishing at 1-1/2"). Such a narrow border didn't work. I bought (gasp) a similar cream-on-cream and made wider borders.















Here is the inspiration. This is a photo of the page in the book. As I recall the sketch that I saw in the museum was about 20 x 24.  Her larger works are acrylic on board but this is likely colored pencil. 

My scraps are pieced randomly.  I had Edna's work in mind but I didn't look at her drawing until afterward.  Edna's color placement is precise.

Maybe, someday, I'll use her colorway . . . but for now I'm content with my scrappy version.

Monday linkups:
Monday Making
Design Wall Monday
Main Crush Monday
Oh Scrap!





P.S.  You can do a Google images search to see more of Edna's work, but here are a few snapshots of plates in the book.  Great ideas for quilt designs!