New Embroidery in Progress

A detail of a new embroidery in progress.

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

Transient Structures Sneak Peek

I'll be installing Transient Structures in just a few days.  Here's a sneak peak of some of the work getting prepared in the studio.

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.

Rusting and Felting

Sometimes I need to take a break from all the weaving and do something a bit more physical.  I've purposely avoided doing much felting while in grad school since I've done so much of it before, and because its so low tech and I feel I need to take advantage of all the great facilities at SCAD while I can.


A couple weeks ago I just got tired of staring at a computer and at my tapestry warp and had to do something different. I did some early experiments with felting and steel wool, and I wanted to get back to that and try to have the rust appear in just portions of the felt.


I'm not to sure of the forms these are taking, it was really just the first shape that came to mind, one that I've made in felt in the past.  But I'm happy with how the rust and the color turned out, and I think this process will come up again in some future work.