Water’s Edge

13 x 14 x 14 inches, wool yarn, linen yarn, mulberry paper, canvas, waxed linen, silk flowers, audio clip, wood, gel medium

“Water’s Edge” was inspired by the ducks in the Winooski River. There are five bridges crossing two branches of the river in the center of my town. Standing on the bridge near the corner market, I can see the shallow river as it passes between a 3-story wood-frame apartment building and a church. In this sheltered stretch of riverbed, ducks stand on rocks (or ice) and paddle in water, in summer and winter.

Most people walking across the bridge do not stop to watch the ducks. They are not colorful or dramatic. I wanted to capture the serenity of this scene in this sculpture. I placed the duck on the boundary between rocks and water. The white daisy-like flowers scattered on the cream-colored rocks suggest a happy, carefree place, perfect for a picnic lunch. The simple blue of the mulberry paper water conveys tranquility.

For the duck, I chose grey-green canvas and a multi-colored yarn in varied hues of brown and grey. It’s a steady combination of colors, demonstrating the beauty of the ordinary. The repeated waves of scalloped knitting ripple across the duck’s back. The duck’s playful character comes through in its stance. Slightly tipped, slightly off-balance, the duck is as much in motion as a still figure can be. The corners of its webbed feet are just barely lifted off the rocks. The white canvas rump gives the bird some vulnerability, but overall, this is a scene of contentment. The gentleness is enhanced by the comfort of knitted yarn.

Artwork and image ©2018 Eve Jacobs-Carnahan; photo by Paul Rogers, Stowe VT