Stranded

50″ X 42″
$3200

Sailing along, upside-down, on the top of the ocean’s surface are thousands of jelly fish-like creatures known as velella.  Also called “by-the-wind-sailors”, they are pushed by the wind, day after day, never fully submerging themselves. Due to a sail that rises above the water and is angled, they generally tack to the right of northwesterly prevailing winds, and stay offshore.  Periodically, winds shift and blow from the southwest, causing thousands of them to be blown ashore.

I saw this phenomenon on the west coast of the United States, and was awed by their beauty.  The beach appeared to be strewn with precious electric blue-colored gems, clumping in patterns that mimicked the arcs of the waves.  Their story intrigued and saddened me.  As with all living organisms, water is essential for the velella to survive. As soon as the water beneath them disappears, they perish.

Fabric collage created with hand-dyed cotton fabrics, quilted with a variety of polyester and silk threads.  The pieces of the collage are permanently fused and stitched, prior to quilting.

• SAQA Ebb and Flow juried exhibition, multiple locations 2020-2023
• Artists Northwest juried exhibition, Roseburg, OR 2018
• Gems of the Ocean juried exhibition, Yachats, OR 2017

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