Creative Process: Denise Labadie
The work of Denise
Labadie is included in our April/May 2009 issue. After completing more than
twenty quilts over the past decade Labadie has remained as enthusiastic as ever
about Ireland’s mysterious megalithic stone circles or dolmen (also known
as portal tombs) that date back to 4500 BC. She continues to visit the stones—both
ancient tombs as well as more recent monastic ruins—whenever possible, to
hear and quilt their whispered stories. Here we share additional examples of her
work and information about the sites that inspired them.
Labadie’s quilt, Dun Aengus Stone Fort, is traveling as part of
Quilt National 2007, www.quiltnational.com.
The exhibit will be on view at the Leigh
Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, through March 29 and at the
Quilters Heritage Celebration,
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, April 2–5.
All photos: Esmond Snell.
Dun Aengus Stone Fort, 2007; all the fabric was hand painted, machine appliquéd,
pieced, and quilted; 63" x 71".
“Dun Aengus is the remains of a stone fort on the cliffs
of Inishmore. The quilt was accepted into Quilt National 2007, where it received
the McCarthy Memorial award and the People’s Choice Award.”
Monastic Cross On Inishowen, 2008; machine quilted, appliquéd, couched
threads and yarns; 60" x 37".
“One of two crosses at an 800 AD monastic site on the
Inishowen Peninsula. These are also called the Carrowmore Crosses.”
St. Kevin’s Monastery II, 2007; hand painted cottons and tulle; machine
appliquéd, pieced and quilted; 55" x 66".
“One of seven ruined churches in St. Kevin’s Monastery
City, Glendalough, Ireland.”
Dolmen on Inishmore, 2005; stones and sky are hand painted fabric. Some of
the shadows were done with thread painting; machine appliquéd, pieced,
and quilted, couched threads and yarns; 51" x 58".
“This dolmen (or portal tomb) is on the Aran island, Inishmore.
It is a very different dolmen, with three cap stones. To my knowledge there isn’t
any information written on it and there are no markers to it. My stone hunting
friend and fellow quilter Grania McElligott and I happened onto an American who
told us how to find it.”
Resources suggested by Labadie about Irish megaliths:
www.megalithicireland.com
www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/links.html
www.megalithomania.com
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