Narrator 1: Blankets? On the floor of a museum?? That’s puzzling!
Narrator 2: Let’s take a walk around this artwork.
[Jaunty walking around music]
It’s twelve and a half feet long, made up of different colors and patterns and forms – pink, blue, orange, and green stripes. And orange shapes with eight sides, called octagons. In some places it’s smoother, other places bumpier. These patterns and wooly materials may look familiar –
[Walking music cross–fades to music box lullaby]
Cozy. Like something to curl up in if you’re chilly, or cuddle when you’re afraid. Something maybe made for a special person by a friend or relative, with work and care and time and love.
That’s because each piece is a blanket, or afghan –– hand–knitted or crocheted. And the squooshy dolls or animals on top are handmade too.
The artist, Mike Kelley, didn’t make them himself – he bought them second hand. Then sewed them together to create something new.
Now, make sure no one’s behind you. Then, step back. …and try squinting your eyes until you can’t tell exactly what you’re looking at.
Now, what do you see? The artist hoped people would enjoy the bright colors and shapes and patterns. But most everyone still thought of blankets and toys and memories and feelings about being a kid – some happy, some kind of sad. What about you?