Uisce an Bhróin from the collection of Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.

Uisce an Bhróin

Upcycled Crown Royal whiskey bottle bags, commercially dyed merino wool, cotton and monofilament sewing thread, cotton canvas backing

On Loan

Artist Statement:
The Irish name for whiskey sounds magical: uisce beatha, water of life. My childhood memories of the bags that some bottles of whiskey came in were also kind of magical—I loved the velvety purple fabric, the gold stitching, and how they were the perfect size to store doll clothes or colored pencils. There are also fewer magical memories, which give this work its title: Uisce an Bhróin, water of sorrow.

Technique:
The central wool weaving is a miniature version of a traditional band-woven Irish crios belt, bordered with braided strips of fabric, seams, and trim ripped from old Crown Royal whiskey bottle bags. The various bands of weaving and braiding were then stitched together like a rag rug.

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From Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.

Becka Rahn

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