Saturday, April 27, 2019

Home as Hat: Andrea Minton Part 2

"Home as Hat: Andrea Minton" 2019

I originally started stitching this series of images with regular thread and came to the conclusion that I needed to use the thicker embroidery floss so that the colors would pop out from the background. Since I am working on an exhibition of this body of work, I decided to redo some of the earlier works that only used regular thread.

This portrait of the lovely Andrea Minton was originally shot in 2016. As you can see in the original Home as Hat: Andrea Minton, the regular thread I used was too small to have any impact on the "hat" I was trying to create. Looking at the structure of the roof in the photograph, I realized weaving the floss would mirror the asphalt shingles. I have not woven the thread before and feel that this treatment worked perfectly for this particular image.

Julie Green
April 27, 2019

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove

"Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 1" 2018

Not all of the destinations I photographed last year were in nature. Downtown Lemon Cove provided my eye with cement candy in the form of this abandoned 1930's Richfield gas station and what looked like a 1960's Standard Oil auto shop. Located directly across the street from each other, they were still vying for attention long after their shops had been deserted.

Found along the only road into and out of Lemon Cover in the middle of the citrus orchards, this little one horse town apparently didn't have the heart or the money to tear these relics down. I was grateful to come across these buildings that still held onto a piece of Americana in the backroads of the California Central Valley.

Julie Green
April 13, 2019


"Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 2" 2018



"Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 3" 2018



"Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 4" 2018



"Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 5" 2018

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Destination: Lemon Cove Orchards

"Destination: Lemon Cove Orchards No. 1" 2018



Citrus groves in central California should replace the bear on our state flag. They have played a larger role in our economy and are a quintessential symbol of our abundance and a direct product of the sun our state is known for. After visiting the Sequoia's we drove through the lovely little town of Lemon Cove in the San Joaquin Valley. With a population of 308 people and over a billion oranges and lemons, the citrus definitely outnumber the humans.

This picturesque stretch of California reminded me once again what our state must have looked like 100 years ago. Dirt roads lead to old Victorian ranches and barns surrounded by century old King Palm trees shading them from the hot central valley sun. The unending cycle of seasons, planting, growth and harvesting had carved a well worn path that dominated this farming culture. You could feel the balance of both knowing what to expect and hard work rewarded with the sounds and the smells of this simple town.

I could see myself living in a small town like this, away from the pace and hurried life we live in the city. I could get used to smelling orange and lemon flowers float on the air and the sound of the honey bee zipping by, the only thing in a hurry to get to work. I can taste the tart juice of the warm citrus on my tongue while I watch the world go by. 

Some day...

Julie Green
April 6, 2019


"Destination: Lemon Cove Orchards No. 2" 2018



"Destination: Lemon Cove Orchards No. 3" 2018



"Destination: Lemon Cove Orchards No. 4" 2018


"Destination: Lemon Cove Orchards No. 5" 2018