Something Rich And Strange
I found this hand-done needlepoint art at an estate sale a few months ago, along with another work, spending $70 for both. The other piece was immediately recognizable as Peter Max’s ‘Geometric Man’ done in needlepoint and set in an elaborate gold frame. This piece was not easily identified, stumping both AI image search and me. I knew it was likely 1970s as well based on the groovy vibe, but I could not find anything remotely similar. The framing was damaged, but it spoke to my 1970s sensibility and I happily carted it home.
Wanting to have it professionally re-framed without spending a fortune, I mulled what to do. The glass was missing and the original matting was water damaged so I needed to disassemble the piece to begin renovations. After prying the piece out of the original white frame, I discovered the (hand painted) canvas was entitled “Mazel Tov” but there was no maker information. ‘Mazel Tov’ is a Yiddish term meaning ‘congratulations’, often used for celebrating happy occasions like births or weddings. Interesting.
Using the damaged matts as templates, I cut new matt forms and then hunted for fabric to use. Eventually I thrifted a pair of wool dress slacks and a purple cotton button-down shirt to utilize. After a bit of trial and error, I cut and ironed pieces to fit, used a spray adhesive to adhere the fabric to the board, and then secured all layers by sewing around them on my sewing machine. Not the easiest project as the darn thing was 21” square and I had to move my sewing table away from the wall to manipulate the boards under the machine. With new matting in hand, I had the work professionally framed, reusing the original 1970s white frame. Plexiglass would cost nearly $160 so I opted for $85 glass instead (I am cheap). It is in my dining room at the moment, the fun colors and charming vibe brightening my mood no matter the stress I am feeling.
While recently visiting a dear friend, I showed her an image of the needlework, and she, being a theater buff, noted it reminded her of the “God Spell” artwork of the 1970s. Using that cue, AI image search immediately landed on a 1970 blacklight poster “Something Rich & Strange” by Patricia Mancuso. Bingo! I could not find a darn thing about the artist Patricia Mancuso, which I do find annoying (Peter Max, mind you, is easily researched). It is odd that even now, having had AI locate the Patricia Mancuso poster, if I search just the needlework it will not find her – indicating yet again that AI might be useful but it is not foolproof.
Now, to make things more interesting, the poster’s title references a quote by Shakespeare in The Tempest. It is from Ariel’s “Full Fathom Five” song in Act 1, Scene 2 : "Nothing of him that doth fade / But doth suffer a sea-change / Into something rich and strange.” This speech introduced the term “sea change” in our lexicon, signifying a profound, wonderful transformation. Oddly, the entire premise of Ariel’s speech is to deceive Prince Ferdinand into believing his father has drowned, when, in fact, he is alive. Ariel paints a loving vision of the father transforming into pearls and coral, consoling the deceived Ferdinand who accepts her words as truth hook, line and sinker.
Having been married over 35 years, I recognize that communication truly has the biggest impact on relationships. Being open minded to find out the truth, not just to react emotionally and focus on your own beliefs, lies at the heart of transforming a marriage into a partnership. Moving from vengeance and anger, to attempting to understand and offer reconciliation and forgiveness will make that marriage a transformative partnership. I am left with the distinct feeling that my needlework canvas was a work of art made for a newlywed couple, embarking on their personal journey in marriage. Tempest indeed!