Ming the Clam

Once upon a time I studied how clam eggs divided and developed! This led to my love of clams and a series of quilts dedicated to a very old quahog, Ming. In 2006, scientists dredged up a live clam from the North sea. The London Sunday Times nicknamed the clam “Ming” because it was “born” in 1499, during the Chinese Ming dynasty and lived for over 500 years.

I wondered what Ming missed during those 507 years so Ming became my artistic muse. Initially, my intent was to address playful topics and translate my ideas in bright colors in my naïve art style. Many of the quilts are colorful, whimsical and idiomatic. However, much of the artwork is serious, topical and wrapped in social commentary.