This is my narrative, and like me, it is more visually oriented than prose or fact! If you are looking for a resume of facts and dates, please click here:
I am, at my very core, a maker. Making has been the thread throughout my lives: Educational (BS-art, MA-Art, AA-Graphic design) Avocational (Photography, Painting, Sketching, Sewing) and Vocational (Graphic Designer, Creative Director, Art Educator, Upcycled clothing maker ).
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I have made for fun, for profit, for communication and for myself. In the corporate world, I often made paper clip sculptures during meetings. In school I made elaborate doodles during lectures. Now, as a “retiree” I work full-time in my public studio at the local art center in Charlottesville, VA, USA. I am there (with my dog) about 10 each morning and work until about 5. I make; sometimes I make art, sometimes clothing, sometimes doodles of some ilk, but always something.
My favorite quote is from Chuck Close and is:”Inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just get busy and go to work”. Pretty much what I do. I just get to it; whether it is “art or craft”, or “good or bad”, is for others to figure out. It is a visceral feeling when I make things. It is a time warp. It is an escape. It is a journey. It is torture. It is joy. For me it is just “necessary”. I came to fiber art late. But it is the media I was looking for; It is hands-on. It is non-toxic. It is textural. It is “women’s work”, It is intimate. It is infinitely possible |
My Studio is in this former elementary school, that is now an art center (my studio is the first floor behind the cardinal!
My Studio is in this former elementary school, that is now an art center (my studio is the first floor behind the cardinal!
The hallways and the main gallery in McGuffey Art Center are open for artists to show their work. There are about 40 in-house studios and another 150 artist members.
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My studio is the size of one half of a classroom and still has the original slate chalk boards on some of the walls. Our studios are open to the public, and we are required to do some community work as part of our contract with the city
Last year was a good year.
I had a piece in Quilt National and appeared on Quilting Arts TV. I also got to see one of my quilts in the SAQA Concrete and Grasslands show in the Knit and Stitch show in London, and was able to go to the opening (remember when we could do that!) and do a presentation at the show at Visions Art Museum in San Diego, CA. Below are photos of the piece I have traveling with the Quilt National, some detail shots, and the final piece. to the right is the original photo that started the piece. I hope it helps you to see how the photo may be what I saw, but my fiber work is how I saw it!
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This is Kettu (Finnish for "fox") my studiomate
The original (as in originally shot by me) photograph sent for printing.
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The above detail shows the hand and machine stitching that was applied to the brickwork.
To the right is the finished piece. Again, to see larger, please click on the photo. This past couple of months have been a time of solitude and thinking. This is a self portrait from the 'time of isolation' called "Just Thinking". It started as a black and white photo, and is hand colored and then the fabric is sliced and woven. It is very experimental. I have not painted on my photography before, and the woven background treatment is also fairly new. Maybe I am heading to new places! |
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This is the original "self" taken, and sent to the printer.
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This after the painting was finished over the printing.
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This close up shows the variety of stitches used to create the textures after layers of additional fabrics were added.
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The final piece. 54" x 33"