Fibrous Forms: Bereft

The sixteen pieces that comprise Bereft each represent a person I knew (or a person that someone I love knew) who passed away between February and July 2010. The title "Bereft" and the concept evolved from an email exchange with Gillian, who's partner Bobby died quite suddenly of pancreatic cancer. These pieces, created with fiberglass window screen, fabric,thread and beads, simultaneously commemorate and celebrate each individual spirit.

Fibrous Forms: Untied

After creating a commissioned piece entirely from silk neckties, I was left with a big pile of "tie innards" -- strips of cloth in shades of white, ivory, sand. In the middle of one night, an inspiration came to me to use accordian folds and then string the folded fabrics together on a piece of red embroidery thread. Once in a while a red bead snuggles in a fold. I made this piece with the hope that the shadows would add another element to the whole -- and it worked!

Fibrous Forms in full

We had a fabulous time creating Fibrous Forms at the 119 Gallery in Lowell. Here are two views of the full room, with images of individual works to follow shortly. Photographer and friend Adrien Bisson took these fabulous shots. Click on the image to enlarge.

Fibrous Forms

My husband, David Crane and I are getting ready to hang/install our 2-person show, Fibrous Forms, at the 119 Gallery in Lowell. This is an incredible opportunity for us to work together, and for each of us to push our work outside its usual boundaries. David has been using wood in "fiber-like ways" and I've been making 3D pieces with cloth. Together we're doing an installation from pussy willow branches off the tree in our backyard, and another using crocheted threads and strips of wood (that's our postcard image). The show runs from October 19 - November 13, with a reception October 30 at 3 pm. Hope you get a chance to stop by! Directions and more info at the gallery's website www.119gallery.com

Ties That Bind

Another opportunity to create art as a memorial came my way recently. Lauren wanted a piece made from her late husband's silk ties, more than sixty of them! She wanted a landscape and the intention was to hang the piece on a curved wall (the "silo") which houses a spiral staircase in their home in the Berkshires. When I sorted through the ties, they fell into seasonal categories, so I proposed a landscape that would "move through time" -- beginning in autumn, into winter, with the promise of spring at the end. Here's what I was inspired to create. For a closer view, double click on the image.