Dogwood Leap Blanket by Polly Apfelbaum

New York artist Polly Apfelbaum, known for her eye-catching colors and patterns in a variety of media, has created her first limited edition blanket titled Dogwood Leap.

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Dogwoods in bloom are synonymous with springtime in the eastern United States. Yet (with a characteristic disregard for rules) Apfelbaum's latest dogwood pattern heralds the beginning of winter instead. Made in the UK on a traditional Jacquard loom, Dogwood Leap is a heavy, recycled wool blanket that brings the artist's light sensibility to the year’s darkest days.

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Known for experimenting with so-called ‘craft’ processes, the artist began using dogwoods in her practice during a residency at Durham Press, Pennsylvania, in 2009. One day a branch fell down off a dogwood tree and Apfelbaum decided to experiment with slicing it and using its organic shapes for a series of vibrantly colored prints.