POMEGRANATE CHALLENGE: Song of Songs

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil; thy hair is as a flock of goats that trail down from mount Gilead. They lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy mouth is comely; thy cheeks are like a pomegranate split open behind thy veil.

Sidney Freedman

This verse is full of symbolism describing Israel by using an image of a woman. I immediately thought of the artist Salvador Dali who used vivid symbolism to convey his visions. This was my inspiration of how I chose to interpret The Song of Songs.

The split open pomegranate as cheeks are the focal point of my piece utilizing intricate beadwork. I started with a layer of reddish cotton fabric that resembled the skin. I then added white pearl beads for the pith of the fruit. I created a dimensional look by sewing on large red glass beads that truly looked like pomegranate seeds.

The blue eyes and the blue seed beads outlining the white doves were chosen for a dual reason; to convey the sky as well as the colors of Israel.

To create shadow and light I used two colors (beige and pink cotton fabric) for the face with silver bugle beads highlighting the silhouette as if part of the face were in the sun. Complementary colors for the goats (brushed felt) were chosen to define the hair.

I hand stitched The Song of Songs and Chapter 4 with embroidery floss to create a virtual jaw line.

The bridal netting lent itself to a natural border to frame the face and provide additional depth to the piece. The pre-made lace was the perfect final touch.

This piece is a departure from my previous work because of the extensive use of beads and handwork and the very modern interpretation of a traditional theme.

Melanie Grishman

This round piece is 16 inches in diameter. It is made of hand dyed silk appliqued to natural silk, cotton and metallic gold fabric, hand beaded with glass beads. It is machine quilted (free motion) and couched with gold metallic thread. The design is adapted from a photograph I took in South India.

Dorothy Thursby-Stern

Applique, quilting, embroidery and beadwork. Cottons, sheers.

   
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Posted on April 29, 2004.