New work by artist Cory Feder (previously appeared here). Currently on display in the smoke, the “Blue Bird of Happiness” spans textiles, paintings and ceramic works. Through the union of the small wonders of the earth (devotion to the ground and the sky), the traditions of the past are reflected and hope for the future. In various myths of cultural and geographical location, the blue bird is seen as a harbinger of goodwill. Feder draws on other creatures of Korean descent and explores her personal history through a mix of folk traditions and techniques such as Colcha embroidery and clay paint.
In rural areas of St. Louis Valley and northern New Mexico, Colcha is a means of protecting important places, stories and people through wool embroidery. Linked to this practice, it is combined with Federer’s Colorado home and existing homes in New Mexico. Some believe that the Korkha tradition, which originally originated from Chinese silk embroidery, was imported to Mexico. The intersection of local and global forces reflects Federer’s own approach to spiritual and mundane, bringing the fabulous myth and familiar attitudes to root.
