United States, Jennifer Raish, 'Imagining Bardos' Quilt

Imagining Bardos (2021) is an art quilt that was originally begun a few years ago as an experiment in improv piecing but Raish struggled with the composition and shelved the project a few times. In 2020, while processing the loss of a loved one, this piece came together. Inspired by Buddhist writings on death and dying, she developed this piece as she imagined the journey through the bardos of death. The panel with embroidered rabbits (a gift from a previous employer) came to represent the animal realm. Her mashup of various textures, bold patterns, lots of black, and the irregular border evoke the chaos that is said to characterize the journey through death. Movement through this world is conveyed with prints repeating in a cascading fashion and quilting further echoing this movement. But Imagining Bardos also expresses beauty, perhaps an indication of hope or acceptance found in otherwise difficult situations.

Materials vary and are mostly cotton. Fabrics were sourced locally from small businesses or online from independent designers. The gifted embroidered animal piece is likely of South or Central American origin.

Approximately 110cm by 80cm. The edges are invisibly faced. The backing is the same black canvas as the larger black pieces on the front. There are black thread loops on the back for hanging on pins or nails.