UNDER MICHELANGELO’S WING
On Wednesday evening, after a long time, I visited the Great Guild in Riga where the Vienna Strauss Philharmonic Orchestra was performing. As always, classical music concerts inevitably become a space and time for me to either relax and finally stop thinking about everything or - to contemplate everything in detail. I am someone who always 'eats' with my eyes, so I closely observed the musicians, their stage performance, and work ethic. I got stuck watching one of the violins. All the instruments were so perfectly polished; their playing seemed like rehearsed choreography. The more I watched, the more I understood that the key to classical music lies in moderation and attention to detail. I also paid a lot of attention to the lady at the percussion instruments; I thought that if I were in her shoes, my temperament would have probably taken over the entire orchestra quite fast. I noticed how skillfully she countered how loud and how long the timpani sounded, fitting exactly as needed. That's what happens when you watch professionals at work.
I have similar reflections when I go to the ballet or opera – the rehearsed movements, control over the body, costumes, and, of course, the sound of pointe shoes on stage. Some steps are almost silent, and there are moments when someone manages to make it louder. Watching and experiencing these professionals at work, I cannot help but think of embroidery – perhaps it comes from my pedantic upbringing at the Royal School of Needlework, where technical execution was of the utmost importance. It still lives in me and is a significant part of my creative practice. Now, after significantly less embroidery over the past year or so, I look at my published videos and photos and observe that my hands and fingers have, over these years, refined movements while pulling the thread through, inserting a stitch, or finishing it off. In this context, this is probably as close as I'll get to dancing ballet or playing the violin. Both ballet and classical music, as well as embroidery, have strong traditions that make them elevated and perhaps even unattainable?
The Michelangelo Foundation is an organisation dedicated to preserving craftsmanship, aiming to promote excellence in craftsmanship, support master craftsmen, and foster collaboration between craftsmen and designers. It seeks to ensure the survival and vitality of craftsmanship traditions. The Foundation organizes events, exhibitions, and initiatives that bring together master craftsmen, designers, and society at large. It collaborates with various partners to showcase the beauty and skills of traditional craftsmanship. One of the Foundation's newest projects is the online platform Homo Faber Guide, serving as a digital guide to excellence in craftsmanship in Europe. It provides information about master craftsmen, workshops, and cultural institutions dedicated to the preservation and promotion of craftsmanship. Homo Faber Guide includes profiles of masters, information about workshops, and details about cultural events related to craftsmanship.
I was approached by Anna Pūtele in spring regarding inclusion in this guide with the sentence, "I am reaching out to you with an invitation to participate in this project because the Michelangelo Foundation sees your work as suitable to be included in the Homo Faber Guide as an example of excellent craftsmanship." Reading this sentence made me emotional because it is an achievement for someone to use the phrase "an example of excellent craftsmanship" to describe my work. Thanks to Anna for boosting my self-confidence :) So, this process has concluded, and since last week, I am included in the guide, representing both my school and Latvia, alongside other artists like Māris Šustiņš, Verba, Laima Ceramics, and others.
As a workaholic, such recognition serves as an additional motivation. My fingers itch even more for needles and embroidery, and every day, I jot down ideas and sketch whatever comes to mind. I am actively planning the next year when I can slowly return to ballet, I mean - embroidery.
ever stitching,
Elīza 🪡
