Appalachian Trail
Nov 10
One of my newest commissions is an eleven-panel piece based on a client’s travels along the Appalachian Trail. The client and I collaborated to select groupings of her photographs from her journey, and I transformed these groupings into a single, cohesive image to represent the highlights of each segment of her trek.
Project Details
Panel Specifications: Each of the eleven panels measures 16” by 20”, complemented by a larger 16” by 40” map of the Appalachian Trail.
Materials: To enhance the personal significance of the piece, I incorporated fabric from the client’s worn-out clothes used during the hike, including patches from emergency hand-sewn repairs on her trousers.
Creative Process: The process began by merging and manipulating the starter photographs into the eleven panels. Following this, I crafted the map using pieces of the client’s shirts and socks. This provided a unique and personal touch to the artwork. The entire piece is a collection of fabrics, clients trail clothes, stabilizers, batting, and background materials that were used in the appliqué for each panel.
Artistic Collaboration
This commission has been an enjoyable and enriching collaboration. It has required a deep understanding of the client’s journey, listening to her stories, and finding ways to integrate her experiences cohesively into the artwork. The personalized nature of the materials and the narrative embedded in each panel has made this project particularly meaningful. This project has been a unique opportunity to blend artistic creativity with personal storytelling, resulting in a piece that is as meaningful to the client as it is beautiful.
Timeline
I accepted this commission in of October 2023. Each panel has taken approximately 3 weeks working roughly 6 hours a day for 4-5 days each week. As each panel was completed I checked to see that it fit correctly with the panels along side it. Adjustments were made as needed. I then photographed the completed panel and sent the picture to the client. This kept the client in the loop on my progression. The piece is now completed and Installed in the clients home this past weekend.
