flower-ku blooms in Harlem (crochet+knit+haiku)
People have so many talents. You wouldn’t know it by walking past them on the sidewalk or when sharing a subway car (unless it breaks down and people reach out in conversation out of need for connection or due to plain old boredom). Such was my conversation with the photographer at the Blossom of Fiber Arts Exhibition today in Harlem, where a blossoming of such talents is on view. “Fancy work” (as my Grandma Corie used to call it) is something often done in isolation, at home, in quiet time. Some people (Michelle Bishop, Laura Gadson, the Harlem Needle Arts) are dedicated to bringing such art-making to public spaces. This weekend, that public space is at 135th and St. Nick (B/C train to 135th). I’m honored to have a few pieces in the exhibition, surrounded by the beauty of the handwork of several artists whose medium is fiber: quilting, knitting, crochet, felting, etc.
The moon is a cloud; Until the darkness descends; And its light is seen. haiku by margaret scanlon – hairpin lace crochet flower by lisa daehlin
One of the denizens of this amazing city with whom I’ve crossed paths (her name is Margaret. sssshhh, don’t tell her I told you, as she likes to stay out of the limelight) has the talent to compose HAIKU as if it’s simply a breath of exhalation. Three of these works of cerebral-become-verbal poetry I chose as inspiration for the flowers I knitted and crocheted for this exhibition under the sun – it’s HOT in new york this week! (as fortune would have it, for one of the flowers stems is hairpin lace crochet, I used glow in the dark Jelly Yarn so it soaked up much of the sun’s daytime rays for the moon’s nighttime glowing).
Oh, sweetest golden; Soft-petal’d rose of morning; You are my soul’s dew! – haiku by margaret scanlon, tunisian crochet flower stem (avant le fleur) by lisa daehlin
Haiku no. 1
The moon is a cloud
Until the darkeness descends
And its light is seen.
Haiku no. 2
Oh, sweetest golden
Soft-petal’d rose of morning
You are my soul’s dew!
Haiku no. 3
Wind touching the leaves
At the tips of their branches
Bending, sway gently.
As you may know, the structure of a haiku poem gives its first line 5 syllables, the second 7 syllables and the third is goes back to 5 syllables. In that spirit, I have incorporated numerous fives and sevens into the stitchcounts, petal shapes, bead dropping and needle & hook swinging of these humble fleurs.
INFO ON THE EXIBITION
Harlem Needle Arts, Inc. presents
THE BLOSSOM OF FIBER ARTS
Exhibition featuring the works of needle art constructionists
Exotic soft sculptured plant life and floral arrangements designed through the mediums of crochet, knit, quilt, felt and or weave
PART I OF THE EXHIBITION:
Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27, 2010, 10am-6pm
ST. NICHOLAS PARK, 135th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, New York City
PART II OF THE EXHIBITION:
Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27, 2010, 10am-6pm
special viewing and artists talk: STRIVERS GARDEN GALLERY , 300 West 135th Street, New York City
Featured Artists
Denise Bradley, Sahara Briscoe, Deborah Gray, Lisa Daehlin, Gail Edwards, Laura R. Gadson, Deborah Gray, Ife Felix, Shimoda
Michelle Bishop, Curator – Laura R. Gadson, Art Handler
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- waiting for the concert to begin – knit & crochet flowers by one of the ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ pianos around nyc
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- The moon is a cloud Until the darkness descends And its light is seen. – haiku by margaret scanlon; flower by lisa daehlin
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- quilted flowers by one of the artists of Harlem Needle Arts
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- The moon is a cloud; Until the darkness descends; And its light is seen. haiku by margaret scanlon – hairpin lace crochet flower by lisa daehlin
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- quilted flowers by Shimoda, one of the artists of Harlem Needle Arts
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- hairpin lace crochet moon haiku flower by lisa daehlin
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- quilted flower by Laura R. Gadson, Harlem Needle Arts Blossom of Fiber
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- hairpin lace crochet stem for moon haiku by lisa daehlin
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- Wind touching the leaves; At the tips of their branches; Bending, sway gently. – haiku by margaret scanlon, 5-7-5 mitred knit flower by lisa daehlin
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- quilted flowers by Laura R. Gadson, one of the artists of Harlem Needle Arts
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- Oh, sweetest golden; Soft-petal’d rose of morning; You are my soul’s dew! – haiku by margaret scanlon, tunisian crochet flower (stem avant le fleur) by lisa daehlin
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- self portrait of the knitter
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- hairpin lace crochet haiku flower by lisa daehlin for harlem needle arts blossom of fiber festival 2010
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- knitted flowers by one of the artists of Harlem Needle Arts
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- quilted flowers by one of the artists of Harlem Needle Arts
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- Harlem Needle Arts – Blossom of Fiber Festival – June 2010
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- Haiku flower by lisa daehlin for harlem needle arts blossom of fiber festival in st. nicholas park 2010
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- Harlem Needle Arts Blossom of Fiber Festival June 26-27, 2010 in St. Nicholas Park, NYC
lisadaehlin's blog 
Hi Lisa
Here a few haiku’s for you
Thread Songs l
Hands articulate
Weaving dreams of soft fiber
Thread songs by Lisa
Thread Songs ll
Quick fingers sing songs
Of lacy fiber designs
Creating Beauty
Suzanne:
how lovely! thank you. I’m thinking of having some set to music, perhaps these can be part of that set. – L