Music Series

In the Pits

The Story Behind In the Pits

Artwork Details

• Technique: Art Quilt

• Dimensions: 42" wide x 42" high

• Collection: Music Series

• Availability: ready to hang art quilt

Every musician has a different view of a performance.

This is mine.

In the Pits is the view from the orchestra pit as seen from the violin section, since that is the instrument that I played. Rather than creating a literal scene, I wanted to capture the experience of performing from the musician's perspective.

Near the center is the sheet of music resting on the music stand. If you've ever played in an orchestra, you may also notice another familiar sight, pages of music that have slipped to the floor during the performance.

In the lower left is the piano. The center represents the rest of the orchestra, while the upper left suggests the stage curtain and the glow of the footlights. In the upper right is the music flowing out to the audience.

This was one of the first pieces where I started with a title and built an entire visual story around it. Instead of simply creating an abstract design, every shape and every section was chosen to represent part of the experience of making music.

The idea clearly resonated with people. I eventually created four variations of In the Pits. The first three found new homes, while the fourth remains in my collection today.