Hello Louise!
-by Neil Martin
Today I chose to be in the art world so I went straight to Instagram. Classic.
Story, story, story. A gym, coffee & photo editing at Trace Brewing later and I found my moment. Executive Director of Brew House, Natalie Sweet, posted on IG that there was a closing of a show happening today and that she would be there until 4. I saw fabrics and mad colors and that was enough. What was the show? Didn’t know.
Natalie is the type of person who makes a recommendation or an invitation, you follow or accept it. She is veteran in the game and handles her curations and people with care. So I showed up, was welcomed by Natalie, caught up, and was introduced to the work of this hyperlocal artist, Louise Silk and her show DAYENU.
DAYENU is an absolute flex of a demonstration. The show is comprised of at least 150 individual quilt(ish) pieces thrown on the walls, hung from the ceilings, on the floor, mannequin’d wearables, as furniture and on pedestals. There were even intricate portraits of people, all sewed or knitted in unforgivingly small format. The quilts seemed to range from 3x6 inches to 8x8 feet. Materials were primarily sourced from secondhand stores Goodwill and The Salvation Army. Each quilt was made within the past five or six years. Louise’s writes on her Silkquilt.com that she began her career in 1972. 54 years provides many experiences, which, take from that what you will.
What I can tell you is that this is an artist in their prime.
Quite literally, each quilt is was favorite outfit; the first day of school’s or picture days’ main event; a shirt that never left your pediatrician’s closet. How many car trunks have seen these jeans?
I‘ll admit it. Fiber artists are intimidating. At their best, the vision and capacity for execution is virtuoso. Louise has a purpose for every stitch and is probably only limited by the size of her storage (garage?) Many of the quilts were two sided but due to choice or logistics only one side could be shown. Imagine not being able to listen to Thiller’s B-side because Michael Jackson said “nah.” Now that I am thinking about it, how many times have I walked past Louise not knowing that she had plans for my for-show Carhartts? Just wait my precious.
Louise’s approach to grief and magic of giving purpose to our forgotten memories with such skill and patience places onus onto of my shoulders. So much meaning was woven into this trash. I was walking around the space pondering if anything can be broken or perfect.
I‘ll admit it. Fiber artists are intimidating. At their best, the vision and capacity for execution is virtuoso. Louise has a purpose for every stitch and is probably only limited by the size of her storage (garage?) Many of the quilts were two sided but due to choice or logistics only one side could be shown. Imagine not being able to listen to Thiller’s B-side because Michael Jackson said “nah.” Now that I am thinking about it, how many times have I walked past Louise not knowing that she had plans for my for-show Carhartts? Just wait my precious.
Louise’s approach to grief and magic of giving purpose to our forgotten memories with such skill and patience places onus onto of my shoulders. So much meaning was woven into this trash. I was walking around the space pondering if anything is broken or perfect.
One of the inconspicuous fixtures was this magazine and book holder stationed next to these seats created by Louise called rocks. The holder is made up of various denim jeans. Where the butt would dock and legs would live were large- and small-format publications. This piece of work was shoved between a chair and some rocks, as you'll see in the photo. A great exhibition has no throwaway details. Not all work will be the best. But this is commitment to quality with every detail considered.
Brew House is a wonderful artist residency organization with a remarkable gallery that is tailored for this show. The height/length of the largest quilts deserve high walls. Some of the works are stacked upon one another other. Standing above me or sweeping the floor.
The last piece of art that I noticed was a lunchbox sitting on a pedestal. While it was the last piece that found, it was one of the first that I passed. For some reason, probably because it's good art, I saw a lunchbox and thought it was a lunchbox. I didn't look at it harder. Then I realized that it was a friggin’ Louise Silk on top of a pedestal. A lunch box, without food, so full of purpose that I did not question its existence.
Before today, I'd never heard of Louise, and that's one of my favorite things about being in the art world. There are geniuses to be found amongst us if you are brave enough to say hello and pay attention.
Thank you to Natalie Sweet for that Instagram story. I hope to meet Louise one day. Wonder if she is open taking some of my pants.
I wrote this listening to Young Thug’s Slime Language 3 on repeat at Bigham Tavern.
