After earning a doctoral degree in plant sciences from the
University of Western Ontario, I accepted a postdoctoral
position as a molecular geneticist in the Biology Department at
Indiana University. During that time I met and married my
husband, and together we have two delightful boys, Tommie and
Cubbie. In 2002 I decided to transition from science back to my
roots as an artist.
Developing my technique:
In the past I focused on oil pastels and acrylic painting.
Independently, experimentation with each of these has been
useful for my current medium of choice, fiber. Work with oil
pastels forced me to focus on visual mixing of color, and the
powerful interplay of colors when they are applied proximally
compared to when they are physically distant. Acrylic painting
allowed for quick mixing of colors both before and after
applying it to the canvas, but, as with oil pastels, I became
dissatisfied with the flatness of the art. I began gluing found
objects onto the canvas and then painting over them. This was
better, but still not enough. Eventually I realized that I
needed to create my canvas. Weaving allows me to incorporate
objects, textures and shapes, as well as colors and coarsenesses
into the canvas. By combining this with needle felting, I have
been able to push the dimensional limits of wall art and to
create weaving-felting fusions that are 3D tapestries.
My materials:
The essence of art is a balance between contrast and harmony.
I’m creating beauty, scenes of pristine places and idyllic
impressions, using discarded and unwanted things. My art studio
is filled with a plethora of odds and ends, new and old. I have
yarns of all weights, colors and descriptions, much of it
recovered as scrap from local weavers and knitters, jars of
fossils, shells and weathered rocks. These sit beside dozens of
containers of beads and discarded jewelry from all over the
world, waiting for just the right piece. There are strips of
leather, hemp baskets undone, wires disentangled, and pieces of
lace—bits and pieces of everyday life, waiting to create a
specific effect in a weaving.
My inspiration:
My inspiration is drawn from both nature and my imagination;
some pieces are scenes taken from memories of family walks or
places I have visited. Others are much more abstract, capturing
an idea, a personality or simply reflect the feelings evoked by
an event or geographical area. All of the pieces, though, are
true weavings, integrating the materials, landscapes or emotions
I’ve drawn from my travels and experiences.
|
