Elena

In Memoriam

ELENA HOLOWATY

1958-2022

This exhibit is dedicated to the memory of our daughter-in-law, partner of Tristan and mother of Nicolas and Stella. She was a beautiful, creative, intelligent, and industrious person who above all else treasured her home and family. Sadly, a long and very painful illness made partnering and parenting extremely challenging, and she passed away in 2022.

Key to fabrics and findings:

Apron: She loved handmade aprons and clothespin bags
Books: A Cornell graduate and voracious reader
C-clamp, Gear: Attended a technical high school and believed in making/repairing things
Cats: Enjoyed the antics of Leo and Luna in her final months
Cherries: A motif she liked
Chilis: She and Tristan worked in a Mexican restaurant
Clothespins: A load of laundry on the pulley clothesline every day
Dice: She had an extensive dice collection: 6-2 is their house number
Eggplant, Orange, Peas, Pepper, Radish, Tomato: A careful and excellent cook focusing on nutrition and great flavors
Fish: Momo swam to the top of the fishbowl to say “hi” to her
Flip Flops: Usually wore black boots or flip flops
Frog (by thimble): Wore silver jewelry with her asymmetrical haircut
Hearts: Black-and-white hearts represent her family: Tristan, Elena, Nicolas and Stella
IKEA: Took me to IKEA where I bought the green/white/black botanical fabric for her apron
Kitchen Implements: We often did holiday baking together; she would have loved the miniature wooden kitchen rack
Knitting, Yarn: Elena, Stella, and I knitted and watched movies together
New York City: Loved the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Manhattan in the city of her birth
Polka-dots: Her favorite!
Quatrefoil: I made her a black-and-white headscarf after her brain aneurysm
Quilt: A very skilled craftsperson who quilted by hand
Road Trip: We had many family adventures to lakes, beaches, mountains, country stores, museums, quilt shows, aquariums, parks, picnics, zoos, theatrical productions, school events.
Sage Green Beads: Often wore sage green and black
Sewing: Treasured antique sewing notions, tape measures, and vintage buttons
Starfish: Trips to the beaches of Long Island
Sugar Skull: Her Italian and Ukrainian heritage fostered a deep love for religious symbols
Teabag Tag: Always put the kettle on for me
Tulip, Watering Can: Kept a backyard garden with flowers and herbs

Construction Details:
This is a “people” panel. The dramatic center in red, white, and black Folded Star gives way to Pine Burr rows which tell about Elena’s life through fabric and findings.