Orchid Cross-Stitch
date: label: Date
content: c. 1994
name: label: Artist
content: Ira Blount
notes: label: Caption
content: A white and pink orchid grows out of a celadon bowl in this cross-stitch by artist Ira Blount (1918-2020). A smaller brown bowl holds a single orchid blossom. Next to the floral composition, bold calligraphy echoes the black rocks in the larger bowl. The Chinese characters hé and an, meaning “with peace,” encourage viewers to consider global influences on the Washington, DC artist’s work. A green leaf and orchid petals break the symmetry of a window-like brown border surrounded by lighter brown bamboo leaves.
label: Caption
content: After moving to Washington, DC following World War II, Ira Blount mastered dozens of artisanal crafts. His love for crafting, learning, and community engagement would endure over the course of his long life and career.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Anacostia Community Museum Collection
creditLine: label: Cite As
content: Gift of Ira Blount
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Anacostia Community Museum
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: 2011.0004.0101
objectType: label: Type
content: cross-stitch
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Aida fabric, cotton thread
label: Dimensions
content: 16 × 13 in. (40.6 × 33 cm)