A collaborative project between Judith Glover (artist) and Edward Schuldt (writer),
created for the Narrative Threads Exhibition
at Page-Walker Arts and History Center, Cary, NC
Below is a recording of an interview with Judith Glover by Alyson B. Stanfield at Art Biz Coach. Narrative Threads was a concept developed by Sharon Elizabeth Wood, who led a group of writers and the members of Professional Art Quilters Alliance – South in this collaboration. This interview includes Alyson’s comments and observations that apply to any type of collaboration between artists.
(Listen to the audio file here.)
one
“Samuel,” said Biddy, “I will not have you saying another word about it.”
“It ain’t right, it still being there,” said Samuel. “It’s hainted.”
“Samuel,” said Biddy. She turned from her butchering with the cleaver in her hand. “So help me.”
“All right, Mama, all right,” said Samuel. “I ain’t saying nothing.”
Biddy turned her back on him. The cleaver bit into the cutting block.
The shed stood at the edge of the yard, a hundred feet from the house, doors barely closing and siding warped. The wind moaned around the corner of the kitchen and through the shed.
“It’s going to be a cold winter,” said Samuel. “I heard talk it’s going to be as bad as sixty-three.”
“Samuel,” said Biddy.
“What, Mama?” said Samuel. “I ain’t said nothing.”
“Watch what you ain’t saying,” said Biddy. She laid out the meat and salted it.
Maybe the siding was already warped eighty years ago; maybe the doors were already falling off then. Samuel had heard talk about it since he could remember, but never from family. If he’d a-been put in there, he’d of gone crazy too, he thought. Wasn’t anything more than a stack a kindling now. Wouldn’t take much.
Biddy wrapped the last of the ribs.
“You can take these to the larder,” she said. “We’re almost out of salt. You can get some tomorrow.”
As Samuel reached for the meat, Biddy laid her hand on his wrist.
“As long as it’s there,” she said, “we know where she is.”
Unpublished work © 2012 by Edward Schuldt
Unfortunately, due to publication considerations, the whole of the story cannot appear here. However, you are invited to email Edward Schuldt personally at lydiashortstory@gmail.com to request a pdf of the entire story.
38.5 x 29, raw edge applique, hand painted and commercial fabrics, digital images printed on cotton sateen, colored pencil, $2000
Overall design and construction of art quilt and all images except as noted below, Copyright 2012 by Judith G. Glover.
All prose and images of the railroad crossing, lone tree, and split rail fence, are Copyright 2012 by Edward Schuldt.