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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
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dl8ea14f57b-4e97-473b-8422-42ea2f38c46c
Record ID
acm_2011.0004.0102
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