Aloft

32 " wide x 43 " long

Detail

My son is a climber.  A climber of all things, since he was able to walk, he wanted to be 'aloft'.  This work is based on a self portrait he took, while he was up in the crown of a tree.  The photo was enlarged and then printed on cotton.  

Detail

I 'free-motion quilted' every branch of the tree which I found to be a very meditative pursuit of hours,  probably weeks, all told.

Back

In this full photo of the back one can clearly see the density of stitching. 

Back, detail

Back, detail

After I completed the stitch work, I added a few hits of a bright green dye.

Detail, back

Although this is an old photo, he is still climbing, if not trees, as an arborist, then boulders, as a rock climber in British Columbia.  This is a passion that has sustained him, kept him 'Aloft', throughout his life.  This work is a tribute to this impressive singularity of purpose and passion.