My love for the tactile nature of fiber began at a very early age, sitting at my Great Grandmother’s knitting basket and running my fingers through fibers, something I still think about while manipulating my own fiber works today. I graduated with a concentration in fine art and worked for many years as an interior designer. This further nourished my love of the limitless color and texture of textiles. As an adult, I have become very influenced by Japanese and Scandinavian craft culture. My eye is always drawn to something unique. As such, I am drawn to the creation of something that causes the person to pause their eye and be drawn to touch, as I did at my Great Grandmother’s knitting basket. My passion is creating mini pieces of fiber architecture, I call totems.
I create my totems using materials traditionally found in fiber art and marrying them with unconventional materials. My vision is a departure from traditional fiber works while employing some traditional methods. Starting with a cylindrical canvas and creating a tapestry of fiber and other elements that I find interesting. Metals, bark, insect parts, papers, etc. have been used in addition to traditional fibers to bring my vision to life.
The viewer will often ask the story of my totems, the inspiration, and sometimes what they are. They are interacting with me and the totems, visually, intellectually, emotionally, and tactilely. This opens a dialogue that delves deeply into my personal life and creative process. This is often difficult for me as the creative experience is my personal experience. I did attend college for fine arts, but it taught me very little about assemblage works or the skills needed to create them. These handmade pieces are time consuming. It can sometimes take weeks to get the idea in my head to materialise into a piece. I sometimes have concrete visions but I do not know the mechanics of how to produce it. I find myself working in materials or with tools that I never knew I would need to bring the pieces to fruition. The vision may evolve through trial and error. It is always a journey. Though it is difficult it is fulfilling. In the end I want the viewer to experience totems and I want my pieces to create a conversation.
I create my totems using materials traditionally found in fiber art and marrying them with unconventional materials. My vision is a departure from traditional fiber works while employing some traditional methods. Starting with a cylindrical canvas and creating a tapestry of fiber and other elements that I find interesting. Metals, bark, insect parts, papers, etc. have been used in addition to traditional fibers to bring my vision to life.
The viewer will often ask the story of my totems, the inspiration, and sometimes what they are. They are interacting with me and the totems, visually, intellectually, emotionally, and tactilely. This opens a dialogue that delves deeply into my personal life and creative process. This is often difficult for me as the creative experience is my personal experience. I did attend college for fine arts, but it taught me very little about assemblage works or the skills needed to create them. These handmade pieces are time consuming. It can sometimes take weeks to get the idea in my head to materialise into a piece. I sometimes have concrete visions but I do not know the mechanics of how to produce it. I find myself working in materials or with tools that I never knew I would need to bring the pieces to fruition. The vision may evolve through trial and error. It is always a journey. Though it is difficult it is fulfilling. In the end I want the viewer to experience totems and I want my pieces to create a conversation.
