Correction of the ”Gutta Serti Method”

In last week’s House and Garden Tour blog I spoke a bit about House #2 on the tour, home of David & Sue Atwater, and her beautifully painted silk. I need to correct an error in that blog. The art of painting silk is an ancient process, but the method used by this artist Sue Atwater is called “gutta serti method”. It was revived in France in the 1960s, originally developed by Russian immigrants of the Tsars family who dispersed throughout Europe during the Bolshevik Revolution. Many of the family members were known to have landed in Paris, France in the 1920s. They brought with them their secrets of silk painting and a substance called Gutta. Gutta is a form of clear rubber used on the silk to create crisp images. It was the French’s love for this stunning hand painted silk which caused them to revolutionize the process by the 1960’s.
Gutta Serti Method of hand painting may have revolutionized the process, but the beauty comes from the artist’s natural talents and design ability.

The first step after the artist has created their design is to start the process with the gutta resist. The resist is painstakenly applied to the fabric to ensure the dies do not bleed into each other. Next, using the most delicate brushes the artist design is carefully painted onto the silk with the background being applied last. Once the artist starts the painting process it needs to be completed or hard unwanted lines will be created where the dyes dry between paintings. Did I mention that all these dyes are carefully hand mixed ahead of time to create just the right colors for each design? The painting is complete and the dyes have dried, the silk is wrapped between two pieces of clean newsprint. The silk and paper are rolled onto a wooden dowel, sealed with parchment and steamed over boiling water for 4 hours. Finally the silk is unwrapped and aged anywhere from overnight to a week; this sets the dye colors into the silk. Once the setting of the dye is complete the silk is framed into art or sewn into articles of apparel, or beautiful pillows. Although the process may be tedious the end result is some of the most beautiful silks you can image.

Artist Sue Atwater’s patience, eye and creativity for good design and her enormous talent as a painter makes her a true master of the “gutta serti method”. We are so truly fortunate to have this caliber artist live amongst us here in rural Maine.

Miles Memorial Hospital House Garden Tour Designer Critic

On Thursday July 9th, was the Annual House and garden tour, I had paid my $25.00 donation so I could see these beautiful homes and garden. Getting a late start due to needing to finalize some work before I could allow myself an afternoon off, around 2:00 I finally loaded myself into the car with ticket in hand and literally raced around town, so I could see all nine houses before the tour closed at 4:30. I started in the order that the homes were layout out in the brochure, which also seconded as a ticket.
It was a beautiful sunny day as I arrived at the first home, which was an 11 acre parcels loaded with color and great sculptures. I was greeted at the top of the driveway by the hostess waiting to mark my ticket and the owner of the home. I introduced myself an immediately asked the owner who did the great sculptures? It wasn’t something you’d except to see at a small rural home in Nobleboro. Come to find out the artist was the owner himself. I assumed he was a professional artist, but it turns out he was nothing more than a hobbyist with a lot of talent. Who knows maybe I just uncovered one of Maine’s next hidden secret talents. How exciting would that be?
Now already running late I choice not to go to house two as I know the owner and had seen their home several time before. Plus I was hoping to sneak it in at the end of the tour; most so I could look at the owner hand died silk designs created into wall hangings and scarves. She uses an ancient Japanese process which name escapes me at the moment. Pieces of art not like anything you’d see locally hear in Maine.
The new old home, this is a great example of what you can do with recycling. This home was about twenty five years old with the charm of a mid 1800’s farm house. Built with rescued beams, raised paneling these folk reproduces an old farm house from bits and pieces. This also include some beautiful gardens.
On to the next a late 1800’s farm nicely preserved with the owner displaying a beautiful collections of antique hooked rugs. The gardens where a group of boarder gardens with many of the plant in keeping with the date of the home, with a few extra for color, all in all quite charming. But no time to dilly dally off to the next.
This cute, yet surprisingly not so little ranch when you got inside became instantly known for its two large walk in close , which were well designed and organized. I mean what women wouldn’t want a 6’x8’ walk in closet just for shoes and purses and this was much small than the clothes closet. It was surely the envy of every woman on the tour. Unfortunately what everyone was missing was the simple elegance and livability this home displayed. So often on these tour you see home fill with art and antique it feel more like a museums than a home.
As I press on the last three homes require a shuttle. It’s now after 3:00 pm and I’m getting nervous I might not get them in. But I park my car load the shuttle and off I go. I was greeted as I was at most of these homes by fellow Rotarian on parking lot duties. I have to give hat off to these Rotarian who volunteer to assist year after year who make this fundraiser a great success for Miles Memorial Hospital. Without their assistance it would be almost impossible to get in and see some of these homes as the traffic would be crazy, not to mention the safety issues due to locations of the home. So Thanks you Damariscotta/Newcastle Rotary for a job well done. But back to Phil who greeted me with a smile and asked if I’d been here before. No I responded and still smiling he said you’re going to like this one. As I walked down the driveway to the house thru a small gate into a small garden before entering the house, thought know Phil is an engineer so this home will be formal and well organized home. Engineer are either very organized or the total opposite in my experience. And after all this house is on a house and garden tour so it couldn’t be the later. I’m once again I’m greeted by the hostess and shuffled off to the right with instruction on how to get around the house. The first thing to grab my attentions is a red glass shoe holding long stemmed whimsical flower and that was just the beginning. As I continued through the house it was like a trip through Alice and Wonderland with bright colored fabrics and whimsical art everywhere. Spiraling through the finished basement out to the back yard and into gardens and up to the decks it was nonstop fun. As I came out from the back of the house and saw Phil I just laughed and told him was right I love the house. I didn’t have the heart to tell him after his comment I expected to see something much more boring. Sorry Phil, I won’t let it happen again! The van shuttled had stopped, but Miles coordinators were continuing the shuttle in their own vehicles for us last few stragglers.
So once again onto the next! What a surprise and delight when right down the street is another house with its own version of whimsy and color. Yet not over done but just plain fun! Life is far too short not to enjoy it and these last two home owners certainly had it mastered. Keep up the good work Ladies I loved your homes. They were fun yet very livable, great for the mental health after a stressful day at work.
Now finally for the last home on the tour, hostess still smiley and the owner still cordial as the last few visitors stroll though there home. A small home with the attached barn nicely converted into living small to double the size of the home with a beautiful sun room off the backside. Looking like a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of smiling and talking to strangers.
I didn’t make it back to house two, but that was ok as I had seen it several times. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. It was a great cause to support and a very well put together fundraiser. Besides what designer wouldn’t enjoy sneak preview of other homes in the neighborhoods! I look forward to doing it again next year!