Iris Cross-Stitch
Object Details
- Artist
- Ira Blount
- Date
- c. 1994
- Medium
- Aida fabric, cotton embroidery floss
- Dimensions
- 11 1/8 × 8 1/4 in. (28.2 × 20.9 cm)
- Cite As
- Gift of Ira Blount
- Caption
- Purple irises tinged with yellow grow out of a brown bowl in this cross-stitch with a geometric green border. Artist Ira Blount (1918-2020) incorporates the Chinese character, “mei,” which translates to “beauty” to the left of the flowers. This work invokes the conventions of still-life paintings by including a memento mori, a single flower that has fallen off the plant. Viewers are encouraged to consider both the irises’ natural beauty and their transience.
- After moving to Washington, DC following World War II, Ira Blount mastered dozens of artisanal crafts. His love for crafting, learning, and community engagement would endure over the course of his long life and career.
- Accession Number
- 2011.0004.0102
- Type
- cross-stitch
- See more items in
- Anacostia Community Museum Collection
- Data Source
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Metadata Usage
- CC0
- Record ID
- acm_2011.0004.0102
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