"Sketches from the Velvet Lounge"

    From the mid 1980's to 2010, my husband and I frequented the Velvet lounge in Chicago, home of live innovative Jazz. This was one of those places that seemed permanent, historic: a school for young musicians and a home for experimentation. I would sit in the dark and sketch the musicians. By the time the Velvet closed, I had about 100 sketches in various notebooks. I put them aside until recently, and decided it was time to gather them together as a tribute to the many master musicians, some now deceased. I transferred the drawings to fabric using my home printer. I tried to give an impression of the distinctive wall paper with a stamper I carved. I included the pendulous chandelier, and the African-print curtains. This became a quilt, finally finished in November of 2025.

This quilt will be exhibited at the Chicago Cultural Center from April 25 to September 27, 2026. Some of the sketches will be available as posters in the "Buddy" gift shop. 50% of proceeds  will be donated to the "Birdhouse.org.", helping to finance concerts in Fred Anderson park.

Fred Anderson                                       Hamid Drake

                                                                    Nicole Mitchell

Our New American Heroes

 My most recent work, "Our New American Heroes," was shown at the Bridgeport Art Center's Cardboard show in November. It depicts Fani Willis, Jack Smith, Tanya Chutkan, Letitia James, and Alvin Bragg. 18" x 24"

 Here's a slide show of part of my April 2023 exhibit of Artist Books at the Orland Park Library. 

The show ends May 2, 2023.

This show runs through April, 2023

 

 I have made close to 100 books out of discarded cardboard, paper bags, junk mail, and other scraps. I teach bookmaking classes all over the city of Chicago, and use mine as collage journals.  Here are a few pages from my most recent book/journal, which has content about the Corona virus. This demonstrates how historic events affect our lives personally.

                                                             Something in the air

                                                All dressed up with nowhere to go.

                                                                Rash.

                                                        Trans-oceanic call

 New mosaics creeping up the walls of my house, finished Sept. 10, 2021

It's Bigger Than Us

This is another piece I have been working on during the past year. Just finished, it is a large quilt called "Bigger Than Us," in reference to the unknown forces affecting our lives. There are 3-dimensional mutant forms rising above a background of patchwork scraps, and  panels of solar prints, all hand painted and hand quilted.

                                                      

                                   

Coronaland

 Please excuse my long absence! I have not contracted Corona virus. There was merely a glitch in  publishing my blog, now corrected. During the quarantine I have been making fabric masks, journaling in my collage books, working on several gardens and several quilts, and I have created a card game, appropriately called "The Game of Corona." This is a tragic experience in which players imagine various aspects of the worldwide pandemic, including paranoia, germophobia, and a hypochondriac state of mind. I would like to market this game while the  virus is still prevalent. If anyone knows how to publish card games, please contact me. 

Born of Fire

Another collage from my series on future evolution, referenced previously in this blog. These plant/animal creatures are "Born of Fire."

The Box Show

Two of my artworks are now showing at the Oak Park Art League Box Show, until Oct.6, 2018. Soon to come: The Cardboard Show at Bridgeport Art Center. Four artworks total, all mixed media.

Another exhibit

 I have been making Ceremonial Costumes for invented Tributes. Above is a patchwork, embroidered, and beaded  apron to celebrate an "Earth Mother."  Below is a vest for a Scavenger, with secret pocket. These will be shown, with a Ceremonial cape and crown celebrating "Good," at WildRose Brewing, 1104 E. Main, Griffith, Indiana.
Opening will be Jan.19, 2018.

A shrine to one of my heroines, Josephine Baker. Not only was she one of the greatest entertainers of the twentieth century, born in poverty, but she went on to work for the French resistance during World War II, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre by General deGaulle. After the war, she adopted twelve orphans of war of different color and religious origin.

Out of Line Art Gallery

2812 W. Chicago Avenue Chicago 60622

P. 847.224.9344

Recollections’: A One Woman Show.

Wednesday November 8, 6:30 pm, Reception in celebrating Chicago artist Linda Platt.

                              

Ms. Platt came from an immigrant family of carpenters, seamstresses, repairmen, gardeners, and ‘alley pickers’. Self- taught, she has learned from each one to become one of the most versatile artists in Chicago. She makes books, collages, wearable art, sculpture and mosaics from scraps of fabric, paper and broken dishes. While she borrows themes from tradition, her art is breathing, dynamic and alive. As for the quilt appreciators among you- come and admire her theme oriented gorgeous quilts as well as the rest of her art. The show will last till November 13.

Mosaic

My planter-sculpture (trying to think of a title) which will be a part of my upcoming one-woman show at Out-of-Line gallery in October.

Bookmaking from recycled materials

                                ...the magical act of making something from nothing!

Culture Bridge 2017

I will be showing an installation entitled "Ancient Refugees: Treasures in a Strange Land," at Sharpenberg Gallery, 4740 N. Western, Chicago. The objective of this exhibition is to build the cultural exchange and dialog between artists from around the world.
The exhibit opening is Feb. 18, 2017, from 6 to 9 p.m., but many more events are planned, including storytelling on Feb. 25, performances by Renee Baker on Feb. 28 and March 1, a bookmaking workshop by me on March 4, a film festival with Tom Palazzolo among others on March11, followed by a play by Penny Thrasher. Also, Renee Baker will perform again on March 14 and 15, and there will be a fashion show by Elizabeth Parker in which I will be one of the models, at our closing reception March 18.

Annual Cardboard Show

Several of my works will appear in "The Cardboard Show" at Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, opening Friday Oct. 21, 2016. This year, you may purchase handmade fans, a handmade book, or Jumping Jacks, all made from recycled materials. Half of all proceeds go to "Project Onward," which provides creative opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.

The Sketchbook Project

One of my sketchbooks will be touring the country with the Sketchbook Project! It will be in Millennium park, Chicago, on July15, 16, &17; in L.A. July30 & 31, Boulder Co. July 23, and at the Whitney Museum of Art in N.Y. Aug. 27-28!!! Please visit !


https://sketchbookproject.com/events

Quilts and Human Rights

One of my quilts has been published in a book called "Quilts and Human Rights," from the University of Nebraska press. This is a stunning book, with a foreword by Desmond Tutu, and many quilts that go far beyond simple geometric patterns! I feel honored to be a part of it.



Here's the publisher's website:   https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/Quilts-and-Human-Rights,677178.aspx

The book is also available on Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/Quilts-Human-Rights-Marsha-MacDowell/dp/0803249853?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

My First Video: "Tears Not Shed"