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!

Stitching with Wire

 Besides the large woven panels, I've been exploring stitching on paper with wire.  I'm looking at the tangled wire floats I achieve through weaving and trying to get the essential chaotic breakdown of structure in another medium.

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.