Susan Lenz
Mandala LXXXIV, 2021
Found objects hand-stitched to a single block of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: a glass ring from a table lamp over a clock gear; four, orange plastic circles cut from a six-pack beer yoke; keys; laminated Tampa Nugget cigar bands; vintage slot machine tokens; laminated 2-cent stamps; silver-plated spoons; blue water bottle caps; eight brass shower curtain hangers; four Samuel Adams Octoberfest bottle caps; brass screw eyes; four inlaid backgammon pieces; eight, very well used blue-handled paint brushes from the Mad Platter in Columbia, SC; and buttons Custom framed. As a diamond: 16 1/4" x 16 1/4"; as a square: 22 7/8" x 22 7/8"
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala LXXXVIII, 2021
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: a table lamp's glass base under which is a clock gear; brass screw eyes; wooden textile mill perns; dairy product pull tabs; silver, wavy hair curlers; coffee K-pods; silver, metal picture frame hangers; ViewMaster reels; four, inlaid wood backgammon game pieces, and buttons. 29" x 29"
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala CXIV, 2021
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Found objects include a copper pastry cutter; a clear glass lamp part over an inlaid backgammon piece; two sets of olive forks; laminated grocery rebate stamps; purple and gold coffee K-pods; wavy hair curlers; two 2-part stainless tea infusers; palmetto tree charms; and buttons. Custom framed. 39 1/4" x 39 1/4" when hung as a diamond; 27 3/4" x 27 3/4" when hung as a square
Susan Lenz
Mandala XCV, 2021
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: Two clock faces; copper pastry molds; shower curtain hangers; assorted bottle caps; keys; laminated Tampa Nugget cigar bands and late 1930s/early 1940s Christmas seals; wavy hair curlers; green casino chips; blue and white plastic bottle lids; sewing machine bobbins; buttons; and colorful, vintage Christmas light reflectors. 38" x 38"
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XXXI, 2021
Found objects hand stitched to a section of vintage quilt. Found objects include: Medical syringes, their plastic protective covers, and some other plastic part labeled "sterile"; cloth female and male figures; clock gears and spiral spring, buttons, and four red plastic lids. Custom framed: 46" x 46" when hung as a diamond; 32 1/2" x 32 1/2" when hung as a square
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XLIII, 2021
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: Clock gears and spiral springs, keys, brass hinges, Swarovski chandelier prisms, bangle bracelets, metal picture frame hangers; Tinker toy wooden spools, paper fasteners, druid-like game pieces, white plastic bottle caps, wooden clothespins, and lots of buttons. Custom framed on point: 46" x 46"; as a square: 32 3/4" x 32 3/4"
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala LVI, 2021
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of an old, bow-tie quilt. Found objects include: Pewter animals with musical instruments; beer caps; blue plastic toy gears; metal picture frame hangers; external tooth lock washers; white plastic bottle caps, buttons; insulin needle caps; keys; a snowflake shaped ornament; and long needle-like parts of a prostate radioactive seed implant device. Custom framed: 40" x 40" as a diamond; 28 1/4" x 28 1/4"
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XXXIII, 2021
Found objects, section of a vintage quilt 33" x 33"
Using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are found in most homes. These and so many other, often vintage items are repetitively hand stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XXVII, 2021
Found objects, section of a vintage quilt 24" x 24"
Using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are found in most homes. These and so many other, often vintage items are repetitively hand stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XV, 2020
Found objects and a section of a vintage quilt 29" x 29"
Using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are found in most homes. These and so many other, often vintage items are repetitively hand stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things.
