I was surrounded by 200 marine biologists and students living and working together on a small island. That summer changed everything. It was there that I first learned about nudibranchs-these impossibly colorful sea slugs with shapes and patterns that looked like they came from another planet.
What gives me encouragement to continue to use my family as inspiration is that, if you look back in history, the famous portraits that Van Gogh did are portraits of people he knew, the postman or his friends. Intimate friends that, once you get that distance of time, you don't think, 'Well, this is someone he knew and that's kind of boring. It's portrait, in and of itself.
The use of crochet as fine art with this level detail and on this scale can boggle the mind for anyone who practices the craft. Crochet and portraiture are not usually synonymous. Crochet is a textile art and uses a hook to tie yarn into knots. It is most often used to create household goods such as blankets, stocking caps and clothes. It falls somewhere between knitting and tatting in its use. It is an artistic and creative craft that often ventures into functional art.
Medel captures the vibrancy of his eastside neighborhood in works that range from intimate snapshots to expansive street scenes, always with the aim of distilling and preserving the ephemeral feelings and fleeing moments that make up a thriving community. These works also celebrate a bustling street culture that has suffered a summer of ICE raids and unrest, which has stolen a sense of security that will be slow to return.
"There are always bad things happening and good things happening, and I just want people to take a break from the onslaught of sad news. Even for just thirty seconds, this is a chance to share something gentle and caring."