Having already done a Through the Window piece for the last challenge, I felt I needed to do something deifferent for this one - and what a journey it has been. I started from a book I'd been reading, Ruth First's 117 Days, in which she describes her period of solitary confinement (without trial) under the 90-day rule during the apartheid era in South Africa. It's a powerful description and the mark one piece was almost a sort of illustration of the desciption of her cell in the book. As I made the piece. I began to reflect on all the other ways in which people may be solitary and confined - for example through ill health, depression, domestic abuse, political oppression, bullying or simply being housebound.. By yesterday night I had not resolved the two ideas and I was dissatisfied with what the quilt had become, but I went to bed thinking I would at least get it finished and off my conscience.
At 4 a.m. I woke with the idea of this piece fully formed, jotted down a few notes and luckily got back to sleep. Today has been a rush to get it finished - but at least that has made me keep it simple. All that remains from the orifinal piece is the barred cell window, and I apologise for the fact that the view is not through the window but this side of the barred window. Though it's a bit wobbly and rough round the edges I don't find that a problem on this occasion, as it seems to suit the subject-matter.
It is open to a number of interpretations - feel free to ask your own questions and provide your own answers...
Next time I'll start earlier!
