Star Blanket: Dyed Waves

Brandon Bytheway, Marina Cewick & Maria Anderson, 2021.
Brandon Bytheway, Marina Cewick & Maria Anderson, 2021.

While viewing, please listen to the “Star Blanket: Dyed Waves” audio clip.

This piece originates from minds which stem from three educational backgrounds: human ecology, music, and physical education. Together we have merged our vision to bring together this piece for you as the viewer to reflect on textiles in your life. Combining the traditional techniques of fabricating a quilt, we also incorporate digital photography, music, and life story. The digital quilt is a real quilt researched, planned, patterned, cut, and sewn with a sewing machine. While this real quilt does not provide the same physical warmth- this quilt is about a critique and reinvigoration of traditional practices in textile art.

(Note: To view this image: please start this story reading from the middle moving outward. Each level represents the transition from textiles issues to resolution within recycling. The middle layer illustrates the problem- the impact on climate degradation and pollution. The next layer illustrates the textile artists illustrating revolution and leading social justice initiatives. The last, outside layer, represents the solution- a move towards recycling, reclaiming and reusing textiles. This is especially the case, given the COVID-19 pandemic where new hobbies and crafting had caused us to slow down- has revolutionized the social justice impact and a move in the right direction).