Full Moon Super Moon

Intriguing happenings afoot under this Full Moon Super Moon...........

"Be The Pink Panther and Your Loves will be like The Wasp and The Orchid, The Cat and The Baboon" (detail) by Lisa Z. Morgan 2016. Embroidered text, linen. 36ins x 96ins

11/22 Undressed: The Frick, Pittsburgh

Strumpet & Pink's "Rosette Cheeks (exploded and capped)" is now at the The Frick in Pittsburgh having traveled from London, via St Petersburg, with the the V&A's exhibition Undressed. "The Frick is pleased to be the exclusive North American venue for this blockbuster exhibition...." The show opened to the public on October 21st and is on view until January 7th, 2018.

Cotton and whalebone corset, c.1890, © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

New Moon Leather Test

Seeing what leather and cotton batting might do?

Sketch for leather upholstery

7th - 9th September (while acknowledging 11th)

As part of a panel of three papers, I presented with Kate Irvin, Curator of Costume and Textiles, RISD Museum and Nakeia Medcalf, Graduate student in Architecture at Making and Unmaking the Environment: Design History Society Annual Conference 2017, Universityof Oslo.

The panel’s theme explored “Repair, Textiles, and Contemporary Design” and initiated a deep investigation into the lessons that worldwide practices of mending offer designers today. The presentations reflected upon various objects and efforts that have brought the material act of mending to the forefront of creative dialogues along with exploring the conceptual and creative potential unleashed by the physical act of mending.

My paper was entitled Filling the Void and begins as follows:

When I was growing up, all the women in my house were using needles. I've always had a fascination with the needle, the magic power of the needle. The needle is used to repair damage. It's a claim to forgiveness. It is never aggressive.

Louise Bourgeois

I was also brought up in an environment whereby women held this magic power of the needle. Their expertise was used to fashion and tailor beautiful garments and applied to make alterations and adjustments so that an item of clothing could fit the body more flatteringly or suitably depending upon the need.

And so it continued.......... 

Solar Eclipse/Marking 4 Years to the Day

The solar eclipse is felt across the whole of the US today. 21st August also marks the passing of my Mum, 4 years today. It feels to be rather auspicious as the feminine energy makes its presence known.

Mum's Front Porch July 2013

Attention Lab: The Order of The Third Bird

Delighted to be heading to Mildred's Lane to participate in Attention Lab: The Order of The Third Bird. "The Attention Lab is part guerilla seminar and part meditative and kinetic practicum. A discipline of the senses is pursued."

RISD Apparel

Looking forward to teaching in the Apparel department at RISD in the fall. I'll be working with the seniors on the concept development of their collections.

"Be The Pink Panther....." - feature

"Be The Pink Panther and Your Loves will be like The Wasp and The Orchid, The Cat and The Baboon" is to be featured in a book which, takes a global survey of artists working with text, words and physical books in a wide variety of media. 
Further information will be revealed in the not too distant future.

"Be The Pink Panther and Your Loves will be like The Wasp and The Orchid, The Cat and The Baboon" (detail) by Lisa Z. Morgan 2016. Embroidered text, linen. 36ins x 96ins

Photography by Matthew Clowney.

Filling The Void

The image provides a taste of the subject I will be exploring in the paper 'Filling The Void,' which will be presented at the Design History Society's Annual Conference in Oslo. The paper is one of three that will be looking at the subject of Repair from different perspectives.
More will be revealed as the conference approaches.......

Pair of stockings; silk and cotton from the RISD Museum Costume and Textiles Collection

Undressed: St Petersberg

The V&A exhibition "Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear" is beginning an International tour and will open at the Erata Museum in St Petersburg on 26th April. STRUMPET & PINK's "Rosette Cheeks (exploded and capped)" is featured in the exhibition and is to be included in the learning resources that will accompany the show as one of the 10 key objects.

"Rosette Cheeks (exploded and capped)" by STRUMPET & PINK. Image courtesy of V&A, London

Pink Full Moon - Textile Poem 35.768a

The following verse is a re-working of an archive label (pre-digital) for a length of deep red/pink Japanese Brocade. The lush lining was found in an inventory box at the RISD Museum, tucked away in the Costume and Textile Collection's vaults.

Textile Poem 35.768a

Japanese Brocade

In imitation of 17^th century Broussa textile

Symmetrical arrangement

Of pomegranates

Within ogives formed of stems

Bearing roses and pinks;

Tulips appear to grow from the top of pomegranates;

In green, blue, white and gold-coloured silk threads

And overspun gold threads

On crimson satin ground;

Gold galloon around edge.
Cond.: slightly worn

by Lisa Z. Morgan, 2017

The Underpinnings Museum

Wonderful to discover that Strumpet & Pink's "Garden of Delights' is now included in The Underpinnings Museum. The following post International Women's Day: Celebrating Lingerie's Women Designers, includes the piece in a one-off colour combination. It was a 'bridal request' if my memory serves me well?

Image courtesy of The Underpinnings Museum

‘Garden Of Delights’ knickers, c. 2008, UK, by Strumpet and Pink. A collaboration between Fine Artists Melanie Probert and Lisa Z. Morgan, Strumpet & Pink was their quest to create the perfect pair of knickers. A radical approach to underwear saw the pair experiment with luxurious textiles and details that the lingerie world had not seen before, creating couture, erotically charged wearable art. Sadly Melanie Probert passed away in 2015. Lisa Z. Morgan continues to create Art, which can be followed on her blog ‘The Pink Investigator’.

Making and Unmaking The Environment (Spring Equinox)

It is a thrill to be taking part at the Design History Society Annual Conference, 2017. I will reveal more about the panel and the proposed paper in due course.......

A Day Without a Woman

In the "spirit of love and liberation."

Red Hole (Kid Mohair) by The Lavender Hinge, 2013. Kid Mohair. 46 ins x 40 ins

Adjusted, Re-adjusted and Ready

"Be The Pink Panther and Your Loves will be like The Wasp and The Orchid, The Cat and The Baboon" is now complete, at least in the embroidered form. The piece as a virtual experience will be evolving over a period of time as an experiment on The Laboratory Arts Collective's website.

Image (and expertise) courtesy of Michael Kolendowicz

Image (and expertise) courtesy of Michael Kolendowicz 

Time to Dream

"All people dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the morning to find that it was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous people, For they dream their dreams with open eyes, And make them come true."

— D.H. Lawrence

Writings on Fire

Individual Covenant - The Peace Table and Birthing Tikkum Olam

It was both a privilege and an emotionally gut churning experience to offer and accept the covenant created by Mierle Laderman Ukeles. In signing and entering into the covenant, I am now committed to the role or mission that I have defined. What I proposed therefore, as a means to "re-pair, re-create, re-invent" challenges me personally, can be an active part of the everyday and yet holds (I believe) the potential to ripple and reach far beyond.

Piped Leather Seam

The sketches for Mr and Mrs Chairs continue. Once the leather is cushioned with cotton batting, a more ample form will develop.

Piped Leather Seam - neutral

Women's Rights are Human Rights and Human Rights are Women's Rights

21st January 2017 and the atmosphere could not have been pinker. A day filled with powerful inspiration and inspirational power. And our Pussyhats were completed in the nick of time!

Women's March by E.P Morgan-Law

Women's Rights are Human Rights and Human Rights are Women's Rights

Photo via @jimfryVOA

Pussy(hat)

In preparation for the Women's March on Washington, my Pussyhat is underway!!! The pink needs to hit a certain pitch.

Happy New Year 2017

May 2017 be filled with love and all that blooms.
May it blossom and blossom and blossom..................

Rhododendron 2017 by Lisa Z. Morgan