Una linea de tiempo
(A line of time)
91 wood bobbins wrapped with handmade paper made from my grandmother’s robe, bed linens and other personal fabric remnants
11ft L x 2in H
2017
Ninety one bobbins, informed by passage of time, carry evidence of my domestic life shared with my grandmother, my Tita Melida. Her robe, a bed sheet, a curtain and other fabric remnants found around our house, were cut into pieces over the course of several months.
As we sat in our dining room cutting the pieces, we had conversations about memories of her life lived in between her sewing workshop, two children, a challenging marriage and a strong faith in God. More than six pounds of cotton cloth were transformed through the papermaking process and made into sheets of paper which were then cut into thin strips. The bobbins were wound with the paper “thread”, each one representing a year in her life.
Transcript Translation
Duration: 3:01
Melida: She went to the farmers market and different cab drivers
would bring her back. Mamá who is that man?! I would say. He brought me back “de choto” (free) she said.
Melida: I am going to tell you about an adventure that I had with Rosita. We knew each other very well. We went to a
library asking for a job. There was an old man that said to us,
one of you sit on this leg and the other one sit on this other leg. So Rosita and I ran out and Rosita yelled, “que vaya a volar ese viejo” (shove it old man)!
Melida: I asked Camila, do you have a boyfriend? No, but I would like to have a guerito (blond man), she said.
Melida: So your tito (grandpa)…”lo pesqué” (I catched him).
Maria: She catched him, she says…(laughs in the background)
Melida: The “Panchos” were popular at the time.
Maria: “Who are the “Panchos”?
Melida: A trio (music group)
Melida: (Singing lyrics from the Panchos trio) Those green eyes, peaceful as the lake, in whose still waters I saw myself…
Maria: But where you happy that you got pregnant (before marriage)?
Melida: Yes, Marcio was born.
Maria: What did you feel when Papi was born?
Melida: Happy. Your dad was beautiful. He had round eyes and curly hair. His hair was precious.
Melida: Marcio Enrique and Francisco Javier (her children’s names).
Maria: How did you feel when Tito left?
Melida: I cried. Javier heard me.
Maria: Tio (uncle) Javi listened to you cry.
Melida: It’s the hardest thing that could ever happen to you.
Maria: What did you do to get over it?
Melida: Time.
Melida: (Reciting a verse from a Poem by Antonio Muñoz Feijo) Dead are not those who in peace enjoy their cold tomb. Dead are those whose soul is dead and are still alive.
Melida: All my friends have died. I don’t want to die.
Melida: (Saying a prayer) Thank you and praise I give to you my Lord, I praise you with my soul and my life, you’ve let me rise in the morning, and I ask Lord that you also let me go to sleep tonight. Bless the Lord O my soul, and do not forget his benefits.
published by
fiber art now
Annual Excellence in Fibers V Catalog