New Work and Upcoming Exhibitions

I've been working on a new series of sculptural wall pieces that draw from a wide range of previous explorations, many of which have been featured on this blog in the past:

My studio wall of samples.

By looking at all these separate explorations at once I was able to begin to make connections between inspirations that felt quite separate at the time.  The work that has resulted feels almost like tactile collages.  

I am drawn to the way similar patterns re-appear again and again in the natural world and I address this by layering and combining similar imagery executed in different materials and processes, which lends the work an abstract quality.  The forms are still familiar, but they can be interpreted in many different ways.  There is a tension between structure and chaos in nature, in which very precise processes on a microscopic scale create unique, organic forms perfectly suited to a specific purpose.  I see a parallel between this construction of the natural world and construction in textiles, which often require tedious and precise actions, but result in soft and pliable objects.

 

Two of these new sculptural pieces, Emergent Geographies III and IV are part of a group exhibition up this month at Ground Floor Gallery in Nashville, TN.  The exhibition is called Touched and features a great collection of soft sculpture from some really amazing artists, all of whom I'm very honored to be showing with.  It opens tomorrow, Saturday October 3rd.

I will also be showing this new series as part of a solo exhibition next month at Blick Art Materials here in Savannah, opening November 13th.

New Studio Explorations

After finishing all the work for my thesis this fall I've found myself a bit at loose ends, which is a good thing, as it's allowed me time to explore several different directions.  I've been doing some more weaving, using similar imagery that I used in the rusted work, but using naturally dyed yarns instead.  Here is a small sample I wove using some wool I dyed at the end of the summer in Pittsburgh. The green comes from goldenrod treated with Iron.

Dappled (Green), Wool, 14" x 24"

Dappled (Green) detail

  I've also been working on more embroidery on paper pieces, completing a couple larger ones. 

Emergence I,  Embroidery on Paper,  20" x 16"

Emergence I detail

Emergence II,  Embroidery on Paper,  20" x 16"

Emergence II detail

Finally, I've been going through some of my early rusted woven samples that are beginning to deteriorate past the point of being able to show or even move easily.  I've decided to do some rust printing with these pieces, essentially taking an impression from the rust surface.  The printed linen on the left below will survive much longer than the original woven piece on the right.  I think this impression will be the first step in a layered  piece, and I plan to experiment with some embroidery and applique on top.

Impression, in progress

Less than a month away!

Deterioration Panels - New Weavings

 I have a few new large weavings that have been hanging around the studio...

 Deterioration Panel I. Mercerized Cotton, Iron Wire, Cottolin, rusted with saltwater. 80" x 28"

Deterioration Panel II. Mercerized Cotton, Iron Wire, Cottolin, rusted with saltwater. 24" x 80"

 

Salt crystals that form during the rusting process, beautiful in their own right.

Prepping for PMA Craft Show

I'm super excited to announce that I'm going to be exhibiting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show next week.  SCAD is sending a handful of fiber grads and metals and objects students to the show to share a booth.  I've been busy for the past couple weeks getting some of my weavings prepped and ready to go.  A few of the pieces I'm bringing are samples that I've shared before, spruced up and framed, but a couple are brand new pieces from earlier in the semester.  If you're going to be at the show come by and say hello!

Reeds. Iron Wire, Cotton/Linen Yarn.  Woven on a Dobby Loom.

Reeds. Detail.

Arguta. Iron Wire, Cotton Thread. Woven on A Jacquard loom.
Custom Steel Frame.

Arguta. Detail.

Tangential Section. Iron Wire, Cotton/Linen Yarn.  Woven on a Jacquard loom.
Custom Steel Frame.  

Tangential Section. Detail.

Undulations. Iron Wire, Cotton/Linen and Bamboo/Silk Yarns.  Tapestry Woven. 

Undulations. Detail.

This last piece is a sample of my lastest explorations, using an iron warp on a tapestry loom.  It's a much slower process, but I can control the threads on a whole different level.  Having the threads cross the warp at an angle and on a curve for example.

I've also purchased a new camera since my last post, hopefully you can see an improvement in the quality of the photos I'll be posting from now on!

New Weaving

 I got a chance to work on the Jacquard loom last week to try some new designs with steel wire and rusting.  By allowing the steel wire to float in front of the piece in large sections I can control were the rust appears and stains the cotton.

Steel and Cotton. Woven on a Jacquard loom, then rusted. 40" x 28"

More Rusted Weaving Experiments

Details of the different samples from the piece in this post.

  

Rusting Experiments

"It is not a fault in the iron, but a virtue, to be so fond of getting rusted..." - John Ruskin

Fresh off the loom

After a day at the beach

After a couples weeks in the courtyard

Studio Update: Jacquard

Cotton and Iron Wire: Woven, Rusted.

Cotton and Iron Wire: Woven, Rusted.

Cotton and Wool with Aluminum Wire