Flora Collecting Flowers
By Negeen Rahimpour
Artist’s Note:
The day is Tuesday October 28th. I roam the aisles of the Mira Mesa Hobby Lobby when my eyes happen to spot a skein of yarn that I have been endlessly hunting for in my dreams: Yarn Bee Soft and Sleek Irish Rain. It's the perfect gradient of green for me to finally start the piece that I have wanted to make since I learned how to crochet. My work is a crochet recreation of the Flora Fresco found in the Villa Arianna in Stabiae near Pompeii. I was inspired to make her for two reasons:
1. because she's a nostalgic figure for me, and
2. because she, unknowingly, was my first exposure to the world of mythology.
When I was a child, my mom had these two giant sage green vases in the corner of our house and in front of them was this framed picture of a pretty woman picking flowers.
The corner she was in was in an area meant for guests, so it all felt very untouchable, but I loved going back there and seeing her. It wasn't until many years later that I found out it was the goddess Flora, Roman deity of spring. Anyway, shoutout to my mom for helping me with some sewing and finding the flowers. I'm happy with how she turned out. :)