Nellie"s Needles

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Contrails

This photo was taken last evening as we watched the sun set over Lake Michigan...


All day long I had thoughts and memories of this date eleven years ago. Living on the shoreline we have a wide open view of the sky. The vapor trails in the wakes of planes flying across that wide expanse are very much a part of what we see. Their absence was conspicuous when all air traffic was halted. I created this lake piece full of contrails in response to their absence during that time eleven years ago.

Contrails - 16"x 8.5"

8 comments:

MulticoloredPieces said...

Hi, Nellie. Amazing photo and lovely quilt. Glad to here you're through the surgery and on the mend. Hope all goes well for you.
best, nadia

Julie said...

Your lake piece is full of atmosphere Nellie. I will never forget that terrible day, it still has an unreal quality about it but the horror of it will I think always be part of my psyche even though I did not personally know anyone involved. As did so many people I watched in disbelief the live television broadcast in the UK.

Heather said...

Such a beautiful evening sky in your photo, and your quilt is stunning. I don't think any of us will ever forget those horrifying scenes that day.

Unknown said...

I love that you choose the contrails as a remembrance to that awful day. Working so near the airport I remember how quiet it was. Every home had the television on and I was able to see the towers over and over as I delivered the mail. Every one was so stunned. The silence of that day was everywhere.

Barbara Strobel Lardon said...

What a great memory of that horrible day. I remember my husband was in Atlanta on business and his hotel was right next to the airport. He called me and told me how surreal it was looking at an empty still airport. He was on one of the first planes in the air trying to get home. There were only 3 people courageous enough to fly on that flight.

Radka said...

I love the stitched interpretations of the views you have :-)

Colleen Kole said...

What a beautiful piece Nellie.

We lived in CT then and I remember my kids being sent home from school early. And then needing to explain to them why they were sent home early. I felt tremendous relief as Marc's meeting was cancelled that day in Manhattan.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Contrails is fabulous.

Having just returned from a visit with my sister in Michigan, I have a special appreciation of the sunset photo you shared, too.

I miss the lake!