While in Florence we went to the Academy of Arts to see Michelangelo’s David. As we walked through the gallery leading up to this amazing work, we were treated to 4 of Michelangelo’s sculptures that were never completed. They are large blocks of marble with portions of the intended subjects carved into them and they have been titled the Prisoners because the figures look like they are still trapped in the marble. Photographs were not allowed, but I found this one of the Apostle Matthew on line and wanted you to see what one of the Prisoners looked like:
Our guide was very passionate about her subject and shared that for a long time the art community wondered why Michelangelo never completed these sculptures, even though they were begun early in his life. From this I had a revelation – Michelangelo had UFO’s! Our guide then went on to explain that over the years it has been postulated that he left them in this state intentionally because it is up to the imagination of the viewer to release them from their prisons. So…………we may need to change the way we look at our UFO’s. Are they nagging, unfinished projects that we should feel guilty about? Or are they works that are complete within and we are purposely leaving them in this state so that future viewers have the opportunity to envision them finished in a way that releases the quilts from their fabric prisons?
I do believe I prefer to think of my UFO’s as Ultimately Fabulous Opportunities and not Prisoners, but there’s a good chance some of them may remain prisoners forever.
Don’t you feel better knowing you have something in common with Michelangelo? Do you have Ultimately Fabulous Opportunities or Prisoners?
Carmen Sommers says
What a great way of thinking of our “UFO’s”..I have a ton of prisoners, though I do hope to release most of them someday.
Miriam says
Maybe if I think of them as prisoners I’ll get at them sooner? I found that what works best for me is to go to an “event” and take enough UFO’s to keep me busy. I’m a prisoner at the event and work on them until they are finished or time runs out without the distractions of duties at home. Love your blog, Chris.
Evelyn says
I love it, Chris. My UFO’s are prisoners of the bath tub. That was the only space that was not full in my studio. By putting hinged shelving over the bath tub, I also have a nice space to lay out projects and audition fabrics. Aren’t you glad I have a separate shower? Would you like pictures?
clkquilt says
Bathtub prisoners! What a concept! You don’t need to send pictures, because I have them on a post from January and anyone can see them by clicking here: https://chrisquilts.net/?p=2162. Thanks Evelyn 🙂
Mary C. Miller says
UFO’s
Charlotte Nix says
Yes indeed, to have something in common with the great master is truly an accomplishment! Thanks for sharing that perspective. 🙂