June 10 2013

I've just finished the first week of my residency at Contemporary Craft here in Pittsburgh.  I'm working on a fiber installation that's inspired by natural processes of decay. The installation will grow over time to completely engulf the space by the end of August, and is made up of a couple different components. One component is made up of these felted cup forms inspired by moss, lichen, and mold, shown here at the end of day two:

There just so happens to be this lovely tree outside my workspace, which provided me with my color palette. I'm doing a bit of natural dying using locally foraged plants to get some of my colors.  Shown below are samples dyed with a mixture of Queen Anne's lace and Golden Alexander, using Iron and Copper Mordants. 

This yarn is going to be used for another component of the installation, a large vine that will grow across the back wall and into the space, which just got started today.

 I'm hoping to make weekly updates on the installation as it grows, so check back often, or follow the Contemporary Craft Tumblr which will also be posting updates.

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.

Current Exhibitions

Just a quick update about some group exhibitions where my work can be seen over the next few days and weeks.


Now through May 19th:
National Fiber Directions at the Wichita Center for the Arts:

Tangential Section and Reeds were selected for this National Juried Exhibition

Through July 2nd:
In the Mind's Eye At Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art in Marietta, GA

Bark was selected for this exhibition and it won the Complex Weaver's Award!

This show was juried by Catherine Ellis. I'm a big fan of her work so it's extra nice to get this recognition!

Until this Sunday:
ArtFields in Lake City, SC
My installation, Capillary Action is in this art festival/competition, which includes the chance to win up to $50,000! There's a ton of great work in the show though, so while my fingers are crossed I'm mostly just excited to be part of such a big project.  If you make it to this tiny town outside Columbia, vote for my piece!

Tonight! At Sicky Nar Nar in Savannah, GA I have brand new work in the Vegetable Lamb Exhibtion Sponsored by Cotton Inc.  The work in this show is so new I don't even have a photograph that's web worthy to show you!


Also I am going to Pittsburgh this summer for an Artist Residency/Internship at the Society for Contemporary Craft. I will be working on a fiber installation in their space while teaching workshops and giving demonstrations in a variety of fiber processes.  More details will be announce soon, but if you're in the area come by and visit, I will be working on the installation 5 days a week for most of the summer!

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.

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"