Pink Orchid Cross-Stitch

Object Details

Artist
Ira Blount
Date
c. 1994
Medium
Aida fabric, cotton embroidery floss
Dimensions
5 1/2 × 3 7/8 in. (14 × 9.9 cm)
Cite As
Gift of Ira Blount
Caption
Pink orchids bloom in a blue pot on this cross-stitch bordered in brown. Invoking the conventions of still-life paintings, a single flower has fallen off the plant in a memento mori. Between the detached blossom and the three still clinging to their stem is the Chinese character for good fortune, “fú”. These details, deftly rendered in an index card-sized space, reflect artist Ira Blount’s (1918-2020) interests in both the natural world and in Asian cultures, while drawing attention to the universality of nature’s fleeting beauty.
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
2011.0004.0103
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/dl88852e9e8-99a5-4c79-acff-1af1c3a1e304
Record ID
acm_2011.0004.0103
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