Susan Lenz
, 2022
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt 37" x 37"
I started stitching my found object mandalas during the pandemic. It was my attempt to deal with a changing world and a way to adapt to virtual opportunities that replaced in-person exhibitions and events. For me, using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Concentric circular arrangements tapped into the ancient, meditative practice of making a mandala and provided a strong, graphic design that appealed in the new, virtual world. Using old, often obsolete things and plastic objects kept them from a landfill fate. This appealed to my environmental concerns. Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, cookie cutters, checkers, plastic spoons, and old clock parts suggested home, family, and a common nostalgic past. Repetitively stitching these every day items onto sections of old quilts brought an extraordinary new life to otherwise ordinary things.
Susan Lenz
, 2022
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt 32" x 32"
I started stitching my found object mandalas during the pandemic. It was my attempt to deal with a changing world and a way to adapt to virtual opportunities that replaced in-person exhibitions and events. For me, using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Concentric circular arrangements tapped into the ancient, meditative practice of making a mandala and provided a strong, graphic design that appealed in the new, virtual world. Using old, often obsolete things and plastic objects kept them from a landfill fate. This appealed to my environmental concerns. Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, cookie cutters, checkers, plastic spoons, and old clock parts suggested home, family, and a common nostalgic past. Repetitively stitching these every day items onto sections of old quilts brought an extraordinary new life to otherwise ordinary things.
Susan Lenz
Mandala CXLIX, 2022
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt 35" x 35"
I started stitching my found object mandalas during the pandemic. It was my attempt to deal with a changing world and a way to adapt to virtual opportunities that replaced in-person exhibitions and events. For me, using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Concentric circular arrangements tapped into the ancient, meditative practice of making a mandala and provided a strong, graphic design that appealed in the new, virtual world. Using old, often obsolete things and plastic objects kept them from a landfill fate. This appealed to my environmental concerns. Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, cookie cutters, checkers, plastic spoons, and old clock parts suggested home, family, and a common nostalgic past. Repetitively stitching these every day items onto sections of old quilts brought an extraordinary new life to otherwise ordinary things.
Susan Lenz
Mandala CXI, The Steinway Piano Keys, 2022
Steinway piano keys hand-stitched to a section of a vintage, hooked rug. 53" x 53"
I started stitching my found object mandalas during the pandemic. It was my attempt to deal with a changing world and a way to adapt to virtual opportunities that replaced in-person exhibitions and events. For me, using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Concentric circular arrangements tapped into the ancient, meditative practice of making a mandala and provided a strong, graphic design that appealed in the new, virtual world. Using old, often obsolete things and plastic objects kept them from a landfill fate. This appealed to my environmental concerns. Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, cookie cutters, checkers, plastic spoons, and old clock parts suggested home, family, and a common nostalgic past. Repetitively stitching these every day items onto sections of old quilts brought an extraordinary new life to otherwise ordinary things.
Susan Lenz
Mandala CLIII, 2023
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt 25" x 25"
I started stitching my found object mandalas during the pandemic. It was my attempt to deal with a changing world and a way to adapt to virtual opportunities that replaced in-person exhibitions and events. For me, using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Concentric circular arrangements tapped into the ancient, meditative practice of making a mandala and provided a strong, graphic design that appealed in the new, virtual world. Using old, often obsolete things and plastic objects kept them from a landfill fate. This appealed to my environmental concerns. Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, cookie cutters, checkers, plastic spoons, and old clock parts suggested home, family, and a common nostalgic past. Repetitively stitching these every day items onto sections of old quilts brought an extraordinary new life to otherwise ordinary things.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XXXI, 2021
Found objects hand stitched to a section of vintage quilt. Found objects include: Medical syringes, their plastic protective covers, and some other plastic part labeled "sterile"; cloth female and male figures; clock gears and spiral spring, buttons, and four red plastic lids. Custom framed: 46" x 46" when hung as a diamond; 32 1/2" x 32 1/2" when hung as a square
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XLIII, 2021
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: Clock gears and spiral springs, keys, brass hinges, Swarovski chandelier prisms, bangle bracelets, metal picture frame hangers; Tinker toy wooden spools, paper fasteners, druid-like game pieces, white plastic bottle caps, wooden clothespins, and lots of buttons. Custom framed on point: 46" x 46"; as a square: 32 3/4" x 32 3/4"
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala LVI, 2021
Found objects hand-stitched to a section of an old, bow-tie quilt. Found objects include: Pewter animals with musical instruments; beer caps; blue plastic toy gears; metal picture frame hangers; external tooth lock washers; white plastic bottle caps, buttons; insulin needle caps; keys; a snowflake shaped ornament; and long needle-like parts of a prostate radioactive seed implant device. Custom framed: 40" x 40" as a diamond; 28 1/4" x 28 1/4"
As a visual artist using found objects, I work in partnership with my materials to articulate the accumulated memory inherent in discarded things. I use multiples of seemingly mundane items to put into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are combined with dominoes, film reels, old toys, and holiday decorations. These and so many other, often vintage items, are repetitively hand-stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things. This work started during the pandemic's "sheltering in place" and speaks to the universal desire for a place of belonging and sense of home.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XXXIII, 2021
Found objects, section of a vintage quilt 33" x 33"
Using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are found in most homes. These and so many other, often vintage items are repetitively hand stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things.
Susan Lenz
Mandala XV, 2020
Found objects and a section of a vintage quilt 29" x 29"
Using multiples of seemingly mundane objects puts into perspective the abundance of life and the capacity to keep things as if for a "rainy day". Paper clips, keys, bottle caps, buttons, nails, plastic spoons, and old clock parts are found in most homes. These and so many other, often vintage items are repetitively hand stitched into meditative patterns on sections of old quilts, bringing an extraordinary new life to otherwise everyday things.
