VP9: Our First Challenge

In collecting thoughts for this, our very first Viewpoints 9 challenge, a great quote came up in one of my searches: "If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician.  I often think in music.  I live my daydreams in music.  I see my life in terms of music...." -Albert Einstein.  Coincidentally, the quote relates to our first challenge in several ways.

First, it embraces the idea of perceiving the world in a style other than words and pictures. This is the main objective of our group, to explore these "other" styles as sources of inspiration and interpret them into our artwork.

And, secondly, the theme of music. Years ago, in a music class, we were asked to listen to a piece of music and write down the images that came to mind.  An interesting exercise that made one realize how composers and choreographers may view their world very differently.  Like visual art and literature, music is put out there for us to experience.  And while the tempo, style or key may have universal significance, the experience is still very personal.  

Music comes into our lives in so many ways.  We know what we like.  We associate it with certain events (weddings, holidays) or specific people ("our song").  Music has the ability to transport us to other times and places in our lives.  

But in the absence of words or context, what can it conjure?  So, this is my challenge for all of us.  Listen and create....enjoy!


The Details: 
The orientation for this challenge is PORTRAIT.
The Virtual Gallery Opening will be on April 26th, 2012 

Adventure-Lin, Hsin-Chen

Starting to connect from first adventure.

I am curious about how my inspiration could be connected with music? I have never tried like this before. No similar experiences? May not.

But I do like listening to some music while creating. I don’t have certain favorite type of music. However, VIVALDI’s melody and rhythm are brisk.

I only made little progress since listening to it a few times; it was like a barrier that awaits for me to go through.

Don’t wanna reel deep inside but somehow I realize my “Adventure” is waiting to guide me in somewhere.

I returned to listen to the music I usually tune in.

It reminded me of visiting Chopin’s former residence in August, 2011.

I saw a chair that can play music in the garden. (Once you sit on it the music will automatically plays.)

I was so touched by the quiet and elegant atmosphere there. It made me feel better; every tree and bush was like dancers dance trippingly. Sunlight was the best lighting engineer and they performed a moving dance drama for me. It was very memorable and rememberable.

What if the trees dancing with music and leaves jumping up and down?

I immediately draw some lines of what I pictured at that time. What kind of encounter will be between the lines? It surely will be an interesting adventure. I tested a few methods while creating and realized lines will be my purpose. I will arrange time to finish it.

My favorite is still hand sewing creation, I can use needle and thread meticulously to express what I feel. Even though it is much slower than any other methods, I am sure time pressure and beauty of work have relativity between them. This is will be my adventure.

The Deep End

I think I might have jumped into the deep end of the pool here.  Our first challenge was a stumper for me, which I didn't consider propitious.

Because I will be leaving April 9 for six weeks in Australia (and some of this time we definitely will not have internet capability), I was under real pressure to have work done well before the deadline.  I think if I had had the luxury of time and trial, my piece would have been very different. Since that wasn't the case, I took the first impulse I had and went with it.  No looking back.

Reflecting on it, post April 26, will interesting.

Kate Changing Direction with Challenge 1

The first couple times I listened to the Vivaldi clip, I got these impression of being chased; I had feelings of fear/excitement/panic. This might have had something to do with feeling overwhelmed by my immediate surroundings, schedule, home improvement mayhem, etc. 

I ran a 5K on March 18th and realized the feeling I got from the music was exactly like the first 5 minutes of the race. It’s crowded and chaotic – with all these elbows and knees flying, hearts racing, crowd cheering. With me being a little bit claustrophobic, the experience is somewhat scary but in a fun way.


My first sketches were a little too “caricature” like Red Riding Hood running through the woods or panicky Scooby Doo.  Meh. Cliché.  Not working!

My running-on-the-bike-path imagery was too far on the opposite end.  There’s no “panic” on those runs.  I’m out there to enjoy the day and get some exercise.  Even when I’m running fast, I don’t feel like I’m being chased or anything.  I can stop or walk anytime I want (which is more often than I should).  It’s relaxing. The trees are pretty, everything is quiet. Not generating a lot of excitement here.


I was missing the mark as I tried to illustrate how the music really made me feel.  Maybe because, although I did have feelings of fear and panic, there was also a positive vibe to it… but not a carefree, relaxing vibe. Something like scary-fun.  Like being on a rollercoaster. Or flying down a hill on a bike.



The first couple minutes I usually struggle to find my own pace and control my breathing. I have to ignore the people speeding past me or the ones I’m passing. The thing ‘chasing’ me is my previous finish time, which I am always trying to beat.


After the first couple of crazy minutes, I had the rest of the race to think about my VP9 piece. It was really meditative and calming which helped me stay on pace. I went on to beat my personal best time, and crossed the finish line with a smile on my face.


Unfortunately I could not take any photos as I was “fighting for my life” (not really) during the race start. So I’ll have to come up with some other solution.  How do I interpret that feeling into a visual composition….?  hmm

Technorati Tags: Kate Themel,Challenge 1

If at first...

If at first you don't succeed, don't give up!
This has been a valuable lesson, learnt before from experience, in getting work underway for this challenge. My first attempt to capture my thoughts, in a design, after hearing the music Martha set for our challenge, was with the mono printing technique.

This is my sample print on a white background, before reproducing the effect on my dye painted background. Not happy with what I ended up with, I have broken down the original idea into colour, line and shape to capturea little of the essence and am now happily working on my second attempt.

Considerations for the piece include using some of this.

Hard to see, but on this sample I have stitched out some of the pre-programmed machine stitches and am testing couching methods. I find it is always best to have a tester piece rather than launching into the 'good' fabric!

Misik's Response to the First Challenge

Viewpoints9 give me a new world.

Even if I can't understand how to progress well, but I will try to follow what other members do.

I always try to express the image that come to my mind in my everyday life.

it is so difficult to express something I felt when I listen to music.

It's first time to do it to me.

But this is my new challenge and excitement.

I have to go China two times in March.

So I am so busy mentally and physically both.

I participated in the Shanghai Quilt Festival last week and I am going to Beijing

to participate the conference & Exhibition in Tsinghua University by the organizer

of Korean works.

However, in what the trip to escape the familiar and experience new things look forward to me would be helpful.

After returning to the everyday life, I think to have probably afford to do work in next month.

Vivaldi was reminded the school days.

Lisa-Marie's approach to Challenge 1

A New Language

How do you go from musical inspiration to fiber art? This is our challenge, and no doubt, is it challenging. The inspiration is aural and the result visual. How does one make that journey? As I approached this first project, I realized how intensely visual and verbal I am. I also realized that our visual art product: a fiber art piece 18” W X 24” H is the common denominator. All I need to do, to move from musical inspiration to fiber art, is find the language of translation.

The first issue I encountered was disconnecting from what I already knew: the title of the piece, the picture of the equalizer, concepts of music. I didn’t want to be influenced by anything but Vivaldi’s music. This was much harder than I imagined. I chose a dark room and noise cancelling headsets to help me focus on the sounds alone.

The first few times I listened, I did nothing but concentrate on the music. Later, I allowed myself to doodle. Finally, I constructed a set of questions to help me interpret what I heard.  While listening, I asked myself:

·       - How do I feel?

·       - Are there patterns?

·       - Do I sense colors?

·       - What images come to mind?

Of course, these questions are my attempt to distill music back to my primary forms of interacting with the world, but I find them to be instrumental (pardon the pun) to translating my inspiration. Since I will ultimately be transforming sounds to pictures, I need to construct a new language, or at least a bridge.

I am only a few steps down that path, but I am excited about where it will lead. I even had a fleeting vision of a quilt. Who knows if it will manifest itself; we are still in the early stages and frequently the demands of execution modify the original vision. Stay tuned and we’ll see together!

Mary's Response to the First Challenge

On my way to Beijing, but have been giving a lot of thought to our first challenge.

Coincidentally, I was chatting with my daughter and younger son the day before the challenge was posted and the topic of synesthesia came up - syntesthetes are people who "see" language or numbers in various colours. I have since done a little research and learned that Kandinsky was one - he had a lifelong preoccupation with creating the painterly equivalent of a symphony with his art. David Hockney may be another, asserting he hears music as colour and shape. He once claimed, "When I listened to the music, the tree just painted itself."

I will be particularly challenged this month as one-third of the time allotted to respond with my fiber art, I will be traveling and unable to do more than think about what I might create.

However, before leaving home, I did listen to the Vivaldi piece a couple of times - I remember discovering the "Four Seasons" back in university and enjoyed listening to it again. As I did, I tried to "think" in a different way - to see what images the music conjured up for me. It was difficult not to think in terms of "summer" as I was already so familiar with that association, so what I "saw" when I listened was: buzzing of insects, lush flora, warm sunshine, and the busy-ness of a garden with birds and squirrels and the constant change and growth indicated by the lively rhythm. And most importantly, I was especially aware of the layering of these images, which I am sure will guide my work when I am able to get back into my studio.

I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing what the other participants are thinking about as they respond to this inspiration!




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