Quiltangles, An Art Quilts Exhibit.

I am looking forward to seeing you here:

Interview with Susan Carlson

“Cut loose and let go” are the words Susan Carlson signed to me when I bought her book. I met her this past Saturday at the Quilters Unlimited of NoVa quilt show and I am really happy to say that now I have new friend. You know how the “first impression is very important”? Well, I could tell immediately what a sweet person she is when I approached her by asking if we could take a selfie and she didn’t hesitate to say yes with a smile. 

“Corta relajado y dejate llevar” son las palabras que Susan Carlson me firmo cuando compre su libro.  La conoci el Sabado pasado en el quilt show de Quilters Unlimited del Norte de Virginia y me da mucho gusto decir que ahora tengo una nueva amiga.  Ya saben que “la primera impresion jamas se olvida”,y de inmediato pude ver lo dulce que es cuando me acerque a preguntarle si podiamos tomarnos una selfie y accedio con una sonrisa.

Her lecture was great. She is not only an amazing artist but also an engaging and very good speaker: a couple of technical difficulties couldn’t distract her; she kept her composure and handled it perfectly. Her collage quilts are just amazing.  She must have been reading my mind because as I thought to myself, “How did she develop that unique technique?” she answered the question in her presentation.  She also explained how her method has evolved since she was a student and inspired me when she said, “...it all began when I asked myself, ‘Let’s see what happens if…’”  Well, many amazing things have happened and her work has to be seen to be believed! (https://www.susancarlson.com/)

Su conferencia estuvo genial. No solo es una gran artista sino tambien muy buena hablando: un par de dificultades tecnicas no la desconcentraron y mantuvo el control perfectamente.  Sus quilts de collage son maravillosos. Seguro me leyo la mente cuando pense “Como le hizo para desarrollar esa técnica unica?” porque contesto mi pregunta durante la presentacion. Tambien explico como su metodo ha evolucionado desde que era una estudiante y me inspiro muchisimo cuando dijo “todo comenzo cuando me pregunte a mi misma ‘vamos a ver que pasa si…’”  Pues muchas cosas sorprendentes han pasado y su trabajo tienes que verlo para creerlo! 
(https://www.susancarlson.com/)

The next morning I asked her for an interview. Of course, she said yes with a smile again and when we were done we were even talking about our families, her husband who is learning Spanish and how amazing the quilting world is that lets us meet wonderful people and be in great places.  As I said, she is a sweet person and now I have new friend.  So, here is Susan Carlson, I hope you like the interview:

 

La manana siguiente le pregunte si podia entrevistarla.  Desde luego accedio nuevamente con una sonrisa y cuando terminamos ya estabamos hablando de nuestras familias, de su esposo que esta aprendiendo Espanol y de que increible es el mundo del quilting que te lleva a conocer gente mara villosa y a estar varios lugares.  Como dije, es una persona super dulce y se que ahora tengo una nueva amiga.  Asi que aqui esta, la entrevista con Susan Carlson, espero que les guste:

"Princess Nicte-Ha" a Mayan Legend.

The foundation of Mayan culture is its legends: magical stories of creation, art, gods and beliefs. 

This quilt is inspired by the Legend of Chechen and Chaca. 

Two brave Mayan warriors, brothers named Kinich and Tizic, tragically fell in love with the same woman, the beautiful princess Nicte-Ha.   Kinich, the younger brother, was kind and merciful while Tizic’s heart was filled with hate and anger.  The brothers fought over Nicte-Ha until both were mortally wounded, dying in each other’s arms.  The Mayan tribe was in sorrow for a long time.

In the afterlife, the warriors realized they would never to see their beautiful princess again and begged the gods for forgiveness, to return them to the world of living so they could see their beloved.

The gods granted the warriors’ wish in a fashion: they were brought back as trees. Tizic became the Chechen tree whose black sap is poison that burns the skin of anyone who touches it. Kinich was brought back as the Chaca tree whose sweet nectar neutralizes the poison of the Chechen tree.

Nicte-Ha died of sadness when she learned of the death of the two brothers.  The gods took pity on her and brought her back to the living world as the white Nicte-Ha flowers that grow on water.

Today, when you walk through the Mayan jungle, you can find the Chechen and Chaca trees always growing together; and always close to them, floating on water, the beautiful Nicte-Ha flowers.

 Los cimientos de la cultura Maya son sus leyendas –relatos magicos en los que se basa su creacion, arte, deidades y creencias.  

Este quilt esta inspirando en la leyenda del Chechen y Chaca:Dos hermanos, valientes guerreros, Kinich y Tizic, se enamoraron de la misma mujer: la hermosa princesa Nicte-Ha.  Kinich era amable, bueno y respetado, mientras que Tizic era temido y feroz. La calidez del alma de la princesa cautivo a Kinich y conmovio el corazon de Tizic pero ambos pelearon por ella hasta la muerte. El pueblo Maya se vistio de luto por la tragica perdida de los guerreros.

En el otro mundo, Kinich y Tizic se arrepintieron de sus actos al darse cuenta de que habian perdido para siempre a su amada doncella y rogaron a los dioses el poder verla una vez mas. A su manera, los dioses lo concedieron. Tizic fue convertido en un árbol de Chechén, su malvada alma aun ocasionando problemas, pues  la savia negra del Chechén quema la piel de todo aquel que lo toca. Para enmendar el daño ocasionado por su hermano, Kinich fue transformado en Chacá, un árbol cuya savia cura y reconforta las heridas del Chechén.

La princesa Nicté-Ha murio de tristeza al enterarse de la  muerte de los dos hermanos. Los dioses fueron bondadosos con ella y la convirtieron en una hermosa flor blanca que crece en el agua.

Al dia de hoy, al caminar por la selva Maya, siempre encontraras los arboles de Chechen y Chaca creciendo juntos y no muy lejos, flotando en agua, hermosas flores Nicte-Ha.