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Madonna Series
I have always explored a multitude of themes in my artwork. The Russian Orthodox church of my father’s childhood initiated my interest in Byzantine and medieval art. This became a lifelong fascination that permeates my work. These variations on Madonna icons are the focus of my latest series. This group revisits some of the original icon forms that inspire my work. The Madonna and Child, and the Virgin of the Sign are two of the basic forms that I have employed in these pieces. |
“Madonna and Child with Revêtement”- hand embroidery on muslin with bottle caps, wire, set in frame composed of tin ceiling scraps on wood support. 26”h x 24”w x 1”d
“No More Eggs in the Basket”- hand embroidery on muslin. Set in hand built ceramic frame. 18”h x 13”w x 2”d
“Virgin of the Trinity” - hand embroidery, appliqué, on muslin. Set in hand built ceramic frame. 21”h x 13”w x 2”d
 “Iron Madonna” - hand embroidery, appliqué, beading, buttons on muslin, set in hand built ceramic frame on wood support. 24”h x 19”w x 3”d
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“Our Lady of Sunday Dinner”- hand embroidery, set in mosaic frame composed of hand built ceramic components and found objects on wood support. 15”h x 16”w x 2”d
“Virgin of the Sign”- hand embroidery, appliqué, beading on muslin. Set in hand built ceramic frame on wood support. 20.5”h x 14”w x 2”d
“Lula”- hand embroidery, beading, buttons, appliqué, on muslin. Set in hand built ceramic frame on wood support. 23”h x 21”w x 2”d
“Virgin of the Singer”- hand embroidery on muslin. Set in hand built ceramic frame with found objects. 14”h x 9”w x 2”d
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" Our Lady of Piece"- hand embroidery, appliqué on muslin, set in hand built wood frame.29"h x 20"w x 3"d
Mosaic Frames
Not all of my work is based in religious imagery. Many things inspire my work: popular culture, history, life. Sometimes it’s the objects I collect. Collecting random materials is an occupational hazard for this artist.
The broken dish bits were found in a stream over the course of several years. The keys came to me when a building changed all the locks. The person in charge of that endeavor knew my penchant for collecting and reusing such things.
Not all of my work is based in religious imagery. Many things inspire my work: popular culture, history, life. Sometimes it’s the objects I collect. Collecting random materials is an occupational hazard for this artist.
The broken dish bits were found in a stream over the course of several years. The keys came to me when a building changed all the locks. The person in charge of that endeavor knew my penchant for collecting and reusing such things.
"MyBlue Heaven" - Inspired by the song and a collection of broken bits of blue willow china. Hand embroidery on cotton ground, set in mosaic frame composed of hand built ceramic components and found objects. 23”h x 27”w x 2”d
"Dolls and Dishes" - Reflections of growing up as a girl in the 1960's and 70's. Hand embroidery set in mosaic frame, mosaic composed from found objects and hand built ceramic components on wood support.
23”h x 18”w x 2”d
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“Homeland Security” This piece began when someone gave me a bag full of old keys, saying they knew I would do something with them. This got me thinking once again about what we value, what we take pains to protect, and what we let slide. Hand embroidery set in mosaic frame constructed from keys and ceramic components on wood support.
22”h x 17”w x 1.5”d
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"Black and White" - In our culture we seem to see every issue in extremes- only left or right, only black or white. I like to imagine a world where we can consider and celebrate the black, the white and all the grays in-between. Hand embroidery set in mosaic frame constructed from broken dishes and hand built ceramic components on wood support.
26”h x 21”w x 3”d
Inspired by Altarpieces and Reliquaries
I may be a tad obsessed with Medieval liturgical artworks. The variety of objects that were conceived of to enhance the rituals of the church are quite something. Artisans used metals, precious stones, wood, ivory, enamels, paints and even embroidery. I am in awe of the skills these craftspeople possessed. Reliquaries are particularly fascinating. A reliquary is a container for the bones or other mementos of a saint. These objects were venerated by the faithful. While I do not subscribe to the notion that someone's toe bone could heal me- I do so love the containers that hold them. In my own work I sometimes pay homage to these artworks. I borrow from the form of the work, but the content is decidedly not religious.
I may be a tad obsessed with Medieval liturgical artworks. The variety of objects that were conceived of to enhance the rituals of the church are quite something. Artisans used metals, precious stones, wood, ivory, enamels, paints and even embroidery. I am in awe of the skills these craftspeople possessed. Reliquaries are particularly fascinating. A reliquary is a container for the bones or other mementos of a saint. These objects were venerated by the faithful. While I do not subscribe to the notion that someone's toe bone could heal me- I do so love the containers that hold them. In my own work I sometimes pay homage to these artworks. I borrow from the form of the work, but the content is decidedly not religious.
"Reliquary for a Sewing Machine"
This case contains a sewing machine that was left in the first place my husband and I called home. It had been left because it was no longer considered useful. I cleaned it up and used it for many years before a part finally wore out. I could not get it repaired, but I could not bear to toss it in a landfill. It seemed fitting to memorialize it this way. It is constructed of hand embroidered panels, found objects, hand built ceramic panels mounted on sewing machine case, with sewing machine. 15”h x 19”w x 10”d
This case contains a sewing machine that was left in the first place my husband and I called home. It had been left because it was no longer considered useful. I cleaned it up and used it for many years before a part finally wore out. I could not get it repaired, but I could not bear to toss it in a landfill. It seemed fitting to memorialize it this way. It is constructed of hand embroidered panels, found objects, hand built ceramic panels mounted on sewing machine case, with sewing machine. 15”h x 19”w x 10”d
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"Articles of Faith"
This piece was inspired by a reliquary case from the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalamme, Rome. I encountered it in a traveling exhibit and it stopped me in my tracks. The case contains approximately 208 tiny compartments with relics. the center piece is a micro mosaic of Christ.
A growing pile of mint tins gave rise to this work. A collection of articles of faith. Hand embroidery, beading, found objects set in tins in a wooden case. Outer cover contains hand built ceramic tiles. Dimensions closed- 16"h x 11"w x 3"d, open- 16"h x 22.5"w x 1.5"d
This piece was inspired by a reliquary case from the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalamme, Rome. I encountered it in a traveling exhibit and it stopped me in my tracks. The case contains approximately 208 tiny compartments with relics. the center piece is a micro mosaic of Christ.
A growing pile of mint tins gave rise to this work. A collection of articles of faith. Hand embroidery, beading, found objects set in tins in a wooden case. Outer cover contains hand built ceramic tiles. Dimensions closed- 16"h x 11"w x 3"d, open- 16"h x 22.5"w x 1.5"d
"I’ve Got the World on a String, I’ve got the String Around My Finger"
How do we view ourselves in the world? How does the world view us? I wonder about these things. This work is hand embroidery set in a ceramic frame on a wood support with a wooden outer cover, paint, beads on wood, 16”h x 16’w x 4”d OPEN 28” wide
How do we view ourselves in the world? How does the world view us? I wonder about these things. This work is hand embroidery set in a ceramic frame on a wood support with a wooden outer cover, paint, beads on wood, 16”h x 16’w x 4”d OPEN 28” wide
Suzanne Herbert-Forton, Catonsville, MD
sherbertforton@verizon.net
410-747-1706
©Suzanne Herbert-Forton
sherbertforton@verizon.net
410-747-1706
©Suzanne Herbert-Forton