Embroidered Collage

Unfortunately, the strongest memory that I carried away from this exhibit at the Franklin Institute was the press of people.  There was a line.  And then there was another line.  There were crowd controlling corral points along the path.  There were people bumping into each other and crammed against the cases.  UGGH.  Although I do wonder how I could express that feeling in a piece of art, of having a new crowd every time you turn a corner.

My best memory is of carefully viewing an inlaid pectoral necklace.  The chain portion was interlinking squares, about 1" square, each inlaid with a scene.  The line of them was framed by a line of small beads in blue and orange and then a line of larger beads in blue and orange and gold.  There was a huge main pendant at the front and a smaller at the back.  Both showed intricate scenes.

All throughout the exhibit it was wonderful to look at the inlay work and see the little bits of stone set into metal.  The colors were consistant, the most beautiful turquise blues and the orange-reds of carnelion, always with the glint of gold.  In some places there was the dark blue-purple stone and occasionally a hint of green.  The painted wood items echoed the inlay items in their color use. 

I was able to see why the Egyptian imagery and color can so capture the imagination, although I am unlikely to use it in my own art.  Because of the rarity of this exhibit traveling, it was definitely worth seeing, but oh, how I wish I'd gone on a weekday, surely it would have been less crowded then....