threads of history
ARTIST’S STATEMENT – LINDA LEE FOSTER PAUL, 'THREADS OF HISTORY SERIES'
History viewed through my grandmother’s and my mother’s generations. They lived in Bethany, Missouri, on farmland owned by the family for 200 years. Many of my family members served in the American Revolutionary War. They came from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Virginia. I also had family members who fought in the Civil War (both sides),Spanish American War, WWI and WWII.
My mother and her parents moved from Bethany, Missouri to Kent, Washington, in about 1926. My father's great grandparents moved from Tennessee, and married in Arkansas (12 children), died in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1907.
As I have become aware of the family history, I realize how much it is part of my life. My own life is opening windows to help me see and create work from these experiences.
This is my most recent journey with my art.
Series I
Formals of My Grandmothers
This series features my grandmother’s formal gowns from the Rebecca Lodge in Kent, Washington. She was a member from 1930 to 1997. Works in this series may include notes, jewelry, crocheting, lodge friend’s gifts/notes, etc.
Series II
Civil War and Quilts
This series will also focus on my family’s history. This includes the “Log Cabin” quilt that helped escaped slaves find safe farms and routes to get to the next safe farms. This travel was known as the “Underground Railroad”. The “Log Cabin” quilt was hung out to be refreshed in the open air. If it had a dark center, it meant it was safe to go to that farm. Each quilt had hand-sewn stitching of a map to lead them to the next safe farm, as they traveled the “Underground Railroad”.
CIVIL WAR QUILTS STATEMENT:
This multi-media/collage painting, “Civil War and Quilts”, supports this year’s theme, “Honoring our Heritage: Art Through the Ages”, by presenting and honoring the history of my family. History viewed through my grandmother’s and mother’s generations.
I was reading the Elm Creek Quilt novels when I realized the “Log Cabin” quilt they were speaking of was in the bottom drawer of my grandmother’s dresser. It was in a plastic bag with the “Log Cabin” Quilt pattern and the dark pieces of fabric that are included in the painting. My grandmother never told the story. My family had two farms for 200+ years in Missouri and grandmother did talk about how brothers fought against brothers in the Civil War, so it probably was very difficult to talk about.
I inherited the personal mementos after my mother and grandmother passed away. I saved them thinking that I should not throw anything away and transported them from Seattle, Washington to Venice, Florida. I knew that I would use the saved mementos in paintings in the future.
As I started this painting I knew I had to talk about the Civil War. So as I painted and added pieces to the painting, the quilts and the farms became the theme. The lace was added to denote the “Underground Railroad”. The playing cards were also my grandmother’s. I used the white card for safe farms and the yellowish background card for not safe farms. I ran the lace (“Underground Railroad”) between the safe farms where the slaves could pass through safely. The safe farms would put the “Log Cabin” quilt out on the porch to be refreshed, but it also told the escaped slaves it was safe when the quilt had dark centers in the design. This meant they were safe farms for the escaped slaves to pass safely to the next farm after maybe receiving food, etc. The quilter would also hand-stitch a map to lead them to the next safe farm as they traveled the “Underground Railroad”. This is why I added the threads and the watercolor background with the look of threads. I added photos of my grandparents, my mother as a baby and other family members. I also felt the slaves should be represented so I found different photos from history books that worked. You will also notice I added an old envelope and a note from my grandmother’s memorabilia, “Pot Luck Tonight – Mortgage Burning Party”
As I have become aware of my family history, I realize how much it is a part of my life. My own life is opening windows to help me see & create work from these experiences.
I have used personal items (e.g., gifts, cards of thank you or personal notes, lodge gowns, church materials, quilts, photos, threads, lace, ribbons, crocheting and mementos, etc.) that have been collected through several generations. The first painting represents my life and 34 years of marriage that rewarded me with two daughters. The second painting is of my grandmother’s formals from the Rebecca Lodge in Kent, Washington, where she was a member from 1930 to 1997. The third and fourth paintings includes thread, lace and ribbons, used while sewing and crocheting for the family. The fifth painting represents Civil War history of my family in Missouri (owning farms for two hundred years), including a Log Cabin quilt related to the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. The last painting uses silk to depict the Wedding Ring Quilt given on a 12th anniversary.
Series III
Sewing, Crocheting, Threads, Ribbons and Lace
Included in this series will be sewing notions, lace and crocheting, etc., that my family used on the farm to make quilts, dresses, shirts, etc.
Series IV
My Divorce
Divorce can be very difficult after 34 years, these are my feelings, thoughts, etc., during and following my separation/divorce.
Series V
Friends
Very important part of our lives. Many notes, etc. from my family.
Series VI
???
Series VII
???
For further information please contact Linda Lee Foster Paul Studio in Venice, Florida.
By e-mail: lindaleefoster@aol.com
History viewed through my grandmother’s and my mother’s generations. They lived in Bethany, Missouri, on farmland owned by the family for 200 years. Many of my family members served in the American Revolutionary War. They came from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Virginia. I also had family members who fought in the Civil War (both sides),Spanish American War, WWI and WWII.
My mother and her parents moved from Bethany, Missouri to Kent, Washington, in about 1926. My father's great grandparents moved from Tennessee, and married in Arkansas (12 children), died in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1907.
As I have become aware of the family history, I realize how much it is part of my life. My own life is opening windows to help me see and create work from these experiences.
This is my most recent journey with my art.
Series I
Formals of My Grandmothers
This series features my grandmother’s formal gowns from the Rebecca Lodge in Kent, Washington. She was a member from 1930 to 1997. Works in this series may include notes, jewelry, crocheting, lodge friend’s gifts/notes, etc.
Series II
Civil War and Quilts
This series will also focus on my family’s history. This includes the “Log Cabin” quilt that helped escaped slaves find safe farms and routes to get to the next safe farms. This travel was known as the “Underground Railroad”. The “Log Cabin” quilt was hung out to be refreshed in the open air. If it had a dark center, it meant it was safe to go to that farm. Each quilt had hand-sewn stitching of a map to lead them to the next safe farm, as they traveled the “Underground Railroad”.
CIVIL WAR QUILTS STATEMENT:
This multi-media/collage painting, “Civil War and Quilts”, supports this year’s theme, “Honoring our Heritage: Art Through the Ages”, by presenting and honoring the history of my family. History viewed through my grandmother’s and mother’s generations.
I was reading the Elm Creek Quilt novels when I realized the “Log Cabin” quilt they were speaking of was in the bottom drawer of my grandmother’s dresser. It was in a plastic bag with the “Log Cabin” Quilt pattern and the dark pieces of fabric that are included in the painting. My grandmother never told the story. My family had two farms for 200+ years in Missouri and grandmother did talk about how brothers fought against brothers in the Civil War, so it probably was very difficult to talk about.
I inherited the personal mementos after my mother and grandmother passed away. I saved them thinking that I should not throw anything away and transported them from Seattle, Washington to Venice, Florida. I knew that I would use the saved mementos in paintings in the future.
As I started this painting I knew I had to talk about the Civil War. So as I painted and added pieces to the painting, the quilts and the farms became the theme. The lace was added to denote the “Underground Railroad”. The playing cards were also my grandmother’s. I used the white card for safe farms and the yellowish background card for not safe farms. I ran the lace (“Underground Railroad”) between the safe farms where the slaves could pass through safely. The safe farms would put the “Log Cabin” quilt out on the porch to be refreshed, but it also told the escaped slaves it was safe when the quilt had dark centers in the design. This meant they were safe farms for the escaped slaves to pass safely to the next farm after maybe receiving food, etc. The quilter would also hand-stitch a map to lead them to the next safe farm as they traveled the “Underground Railroad”. This is why I added the threads and the watercolor background with the look of threads. I added photos of my grandparents, my mother as a baby and other family members. I also felt the slaves should be represented so I found different photos from history books that worked. You will also notice I added an old envelope and a note from my grandmother’s memorabilia, “Pot Luck Tonight – Mortgage Burning Party”
As I have become aware of my family history, I realize how much it is a part of my life. My own life is opening windows to help me see & create work from these experiences.
I have used personal items (e.g., gifts, cards of thank you or personal notes, lodge gowns, church materials, quilts, photos, threads, lace, ribbons, crocheting and mementos, etc.) that have been collected through several generations. The first painting represents my life and 34 years of marriage that rewarded me with two daughters. The second painting is of my grandmother’s formals from the Rebecca Lodge in Kent, Washington, where she was a member from 1930 to 1997. The third and fourth paintings includes thread, lace and ribbons, used while sewing and crocheting for the family. The fifth painting represents Civil War history of my family in Missouri (owning farms for two hundred years), including a Log Cabin quilt related to the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. The last painting uses silk to depict the Wedding Ring Quilt given on a 12th anniversary.
Series III
Sewing, Crocheting, Threads, Ribbons and Lace
Included in this series will be sewing notions, lace and crocheting, etc., that my family used on the farm to make quilts, dresses, shirts, etc.
Series IV
My Divorce
Divorce can be very difficult after 34 years, these are my feelings, thoughts, etc., during and following my separation/divorce.
Series V
Friends
Very important part of our lives. Many notes, etc. from my family.
Series VI
???
Series VII
???
For further information please contact Linda Lee Foster Paul Studio in Venice, Florida.
By e-mail: lindaleefoster@aol.com