Jon and I went to the Bennington Museum in Vermont today. I had the itch to see some art, but also some art objects.
My eyes wanted to wrap themselves around something functional and three dimensional. I’m not sure why, but maybe, somehow as an affirmation of my own work.
In the museum there is a room with glassed in shelves and on them are all kinds of things from the past. Such as… clocks, surgeons instruments, equipment to make maple syrup, Victorian jewelry made from hair and shuttles and bobbin to make lace.
In one case of shelves are sewing machines.
Small, simple, elegant machines, that helped change the lives of so many people, especially the women who used to sew the families clothes by hand (as well as weave the fabric they were made from).
My interest in sewing machines is obvious. They’re such a big part of my creative life, a twist on traditional women’s work, as much as an ode to it.
I recently learned about the history of the sewing machine on the podcast, Her Half of History. It make me appreciate even more the sewing machines I saw today.
I found it fascinating, you can listen to it here.
A thimble in a silver case.
I love those sort of utilitarian objects from an every day living. Especially if they art like art objects in and of themselves. Which reminds me; I bet you have some nice objects too.
They had little sewing kits too KJ. I was thinking of the ones I have….