Do You Wear Color or Camouflage?

What is the first color that you visually recall? I asked my friend Janice (The Vivienne Files) and she answered, "Blue. I remember being in a crib near the window and seeing the blue sky."

My memory for color doesn't go back that far. I remember the first color I learned to read on my first day of 1st Grade - R E D. But the first color that made a visual impression on me was a frothy, sherberty green - you can find it somewhere in the scarf pictured below - depending on your version of frothy and sherberty.

The image was in a book about a doll hospital. I don't remember the details, but the doll doctor took a rather beat up and left-behind doll and dressed her in the most beautiful green dress ever. A green I still look for to this day.

As a wearer of predominately black clothing (the national color of Chicago clothes), maybe I look for colors in my photographs and silk scarves as that hint of not-city, of out-of-doors.

Maybe I look for color to keep my black clothes from looking like everyone else. Is black the camouflage that keeps me from being too visible? For a person who works at home and is rather introverted, it feels difficult to hide, even in a city of 4+ million people. Black lets me slip through the crowd (although I run the risk of getting hit by a car after dark). But the adornment of a scarf says, "Look at me, just a little."

Of course certain animals are masters of camouflage - insects, birds, animals. But with my military family background, you know I'm not going in that direction. Did you know that military camouflage has been used to cover the movement of ships since Philostratus wrote about the blue/gray concealment paint on naval vessels? And I feel certain that everyone my age, wore a ratty camo jacket in the late 60s/early 70s. And then somewhere along the line, fashion upsurped, or at least co-opted camouflage, as it is wont to do.

So, in this case, camouflage, which makes every military person everywhere stand out in a crowd, now becomes the thing to wear to be "the crowd." Am I the only one who is confused?

War & Nature: Bataan Shadows

At Mile 15 in last year's Bataan Memorial Death March, you came to walk beside me. I could see faint images of you on either side of me. The only sound, however, was that of my feet on the dusty rocky trail at White Sands Missile Range.

You only stayed a moment, but after you left, the bending bowing cactus and pinon accompanied me. They lined the road much as the Filipino women and children must have done over 70 years ago - trying to provide food and water.

I wanted pictures of you to take as a blessed remembrance, but (ironically) for me, had no camera.

This year, once again, as the soldiers left me, you appeared and I was able to capture your presence. Thank you for being there.

This scarf is a limited edition of 15. This is the original image; the actual silk piece may vary in color due to fabric and dyes. Please see this and other scarves at my Shop.

Memorial: Water Vine

This is the first in a series of stories about my silk scarves and fabric pieces. Each piece does have a story and by sharing them here, I hope that you'll be able to pass along the tale as you wear the scarf.

Memorial: Water Vine is a collaged image printed in black and white on silk chiffon. The scarf itself is 14 x 72 inches. This piece came together on a rainy November day as I attended a Veteran's memorial service at Chicago's river front Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. The memorial is formal, yet the fountains of water that spring from the front of wall of names speaks to a freedom that these men and women fought for. The vines in the photograph represent the jungle through which both sides had to fight. For those of you who don't know, my father was KIA in Vietnam in 1967; this event and the area feature prominently in my art and writing.

This scarf is a limited edition of 15. Presented are the original image and the ensuing scarf. To purchase this scarf or see others, please go to my shop