Montpelier show

Susan White and I had a meetup at the Montpelier show yesterday and
enjoyed viewing the 120 or so pieces on display. Some were quite lovely
and different; others we thought, "Why did that particular one get a
ribbon, because it seems rather ordinary?" Interesting to see how our
opinions overlapped and differed with judges. A delightful show. It used
to be in the spring, and this year moved to the fall, which probably
affected the number of entries (down slightly) this year until people's
memories make the adjustment.

There is a sales area at the end of the show and I succumbed to
temptation (of course!) We've been counting our pennies lately - more
outgo than income - but I found a way to treat myself to a few
smackerels of overdyed fabric at a price that couldn't be beat (5 cents
per square inch) by buying small pieces for bookmarks and an ornament.
I'll have great pleasure stitching these bits 'n' bobs for gifts or for
myself!

One thing that struck me...a few of the pieces, while technically
difficult and done with great proficiency, struck me as slightly
"soul-less." Is it possible for something to be TOO perfect? I'd love to
hear your ideas on that. (One of them is a piece I have in progress, and
it struck me as being "neater" than mine - that is, more proficiently
stitched - but also "flatter" in some dimensional sense. Is there a
dimension that is imparted by the sheer personality of the stitcher?)

sue


--
Susan Hartman

Sue, I think you are referring to "character". Artists are not just
technicians - they must impart part of their soul into a piece. Whether
that's playing the violin or stitching embroidery. One can be a great
technician and yet not have that artistry that makes people look twice
(or want to hear/see more).

Dianne

On 11/20/2011 1:11 PM, Susan Hartman wrote:
Susan White and I had a meetup at the Montpelier show yesterday and
enjoyed viewing the 120 or so pieces on display. Some were quite lovely
and different; others we thought, "Why did that particular one get a
ribbon, because it seems rather ordinary?" Interesting to see how our
opinions overlapped and differed with judges. A delightful show. It used
to be in the spring, and this year moved to the fall, which probably
affected the number of entries (down slightly) this year until people's
memories make the adjustment.

There is a sales area at the end of the show and I succumbed to
temptation (of course!) We've been counting our pennies lately - more
outgo than income - but I found a way to treat myself to a few
smackerels of overdyed fabric at a price that couldn't be beat (5 cents
per square inch) by buying small pieces for bookmarks and an ornament.
I'll have great pleasure stitching these bits 'n' bobs for gifts or for
myself!

One thing that struck me...a few of the pieces, while technically
difficult and done with great proficiency, struck me as slightly
"soul-less." Is it possible for something to be TOO perfect? I'd love to
hear your ideas on that. (One of them is a piece I have in progress, and
it struck me as being "neater" than mine - that is, more proficiently
stitched - but also "flatter" in some dimensional sense. Is there a
dimension that is imparted by the sheer personality of the stitcher?)

sue

On 11/20/2011 12:11 PM, Susan Hartman wrote:
Susan White and I had a meetup at the Montpelier show yesterday and
enjoyed viewing the 120 or so pieces on display. Some were quite lovely
and different; others we thought, "Why did that particular one get a
ribbon, because it seems rather ordinary?" ....snipped.....

One thing that struck me...a few of the pieces, while technically
difficult and done with great proficiency, struck me as slightly
"soul-less." Is it possible for something to be TOO perfect? I'd love to
hear your ideas on that. (One of them is a piece I have in progress, and
it struck me as being "neater" than mine - that is, more proficiently
stitched - but also "flatter" in some dimensional sense. Is there a
dimension that is imparted by the sheer personality of the stitcher?)

sue



I remember a show from MASH where the patient, who was a well known
concert pianist, had lost his right hand. Charles (the snooty
character) w3as the Dr. and he was quite upset and wanted to help the
young man overcome his depression about not being able to play piano
anymore. Charles had gotten the young man a bunch of sheet music
written specifically for left handed only pianists.
When the young man saw the sheet music, he got even more depressed
and sort of pitched a hissy fit. Charles' response was to tell the
patient that he still had the soul, knowledge and experience of a great
pianist. While he (Charles) was as proficient at playing the piano as
the young man, he (Charles) didn't have a pianists soul. Because he
just played the notes but didn't "feel" them and never would, his
playing was technically perfect but didn't "sing" or inspire others to
feel the music, also.
I think this is the same thing you are talking about. Dianne's
comment about character is the same sort of thing. Something can be
technically "perfect" but if the person doing whatever it (be it piano
playing or needlework) doesn't have a TRUE love for his craft of art,
etc., then people viewing or listening or watching are not "inspired".
It's one of those things you "know" but can't really explain!! CiaoMeow
^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary /\__/\

On 11/21/2011 10:17 AM, Tia Mary wrote:
snipped.
I think this is the same thing you are talking about. Dianne's comment
about character is the same sort of thing. Something can be technically
"perfect" but if the person doing whatever it (be it piano playing or
needlework) doesn't have a TRUE love for his craft of art, etc., then
people viewing or listening or watching are not "inspired". It's one of
those things you "know" but can't really explain!! CiaoMeow ^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary /\__/\

That's exactly it, Tia Mary and Diane - I couldn't explain it, couldn't
quantify it, only FEEL it.

sue

--
Susan Hartman

On Nov 21, 9:17*am, Tia Mary wrote:

* * I remember a show from MASH where the patient, who was a well known
concert pianist, had lost his right hand. *Charles (the snooty
character) w3as the Dr. and he was quite upset and wanted to help the
young man overcome his depression about not being able to play piano
anymore. *Charles had gotten the young man a bunch of sheet music
written specifically for left handed only pianists.
* * When the young man saw the sheet music, he got even more depressed
and sort of pitched a hissy fit. * Charles' response was to tell the
patient that he still had the soul, knowledge and experience of a great
pianist. *While he (Charles) was as proficient at playing the piano as
the young man, he (Charles) didn't have a pianists soul. *Because he
just played the notes but didn't "feel" them and never would, his
playing was technically perfect but didn't "sing" or inspire others to
feel the music, also.

I remember this episode, TM! It was very touching. IIRC, I *think*
the composer was Ravel.

Joan

On 11/22/11 12:04 PM, Joan E. wrote:
On Nov 21, 9:17 am, Tia wrote:

I remember a show from MASH where the patient, who was a well known
concert pianist, had lost his right hand. Charles (the snooty
character) w3as the Dr. and he was quite upset and wanted to help the
young man overcome his depression about not being able to play piano
anymore. Charles had gotten the young man a bunch of sheet music
written specifically for left handed only pianists.
When the young man saw the sheet music, he got even more depressed
and sort of pitched a hissy fit. Charles' response was to tell the
patient that he still had the soul, knowledge and experience of a great
pianist. While he (Charles) was as proficient at playing the piano as
the young man, he (Charles) didn't have a pianists soul. Because he
just played the notes but didn't "feel" them and never would, his
playing was technically perfect but didn't "sing" or inspire others to
feel the music, also.

I remember this episode, TM! It was very touching. IIRC, I *think*
the composer was Ravel.

Joan

I wish there would be more TV like MASH

On Nov 23, 7:20*am, Karen C in Calif wrote:
Joan E. wrote:
IIRC, I *think* the composer was Ravel.

You're a librarian, look it up! *

I did!