Artist Statement

All of my artwork from the past 25 years explores the relationship between the textile surface and pictorial illusion.  In this current body of work, layers of stripes form a structure from which figures and forms emerge.  The awareness of the texture and construction of the textile is in constant tension with the illusion of space and perspective.  I become immersed in this tension, as do the figures in the compositions.

Much of my current body of work uses images from the world of painting which are inserted into my structured, layered textiles. Originally, the painted images were chosen because of the painters’ particular attention to the painting of fabric.  More recently, I choose images that persistently resonate with me.  My original goal was to return the figures to the world of cloth, but more and more, I want to present emotionally powerful images to my viewers.

I create a basic scheme for piecing and cutting using a computer.  I begin by looking at a particular painting and selecting the major dynamics to convert into striped squares for the 2 layers of cloth.  I then create the shapes which will be cut from the top layer, and will reveal the essence of the imagery in the painting.  This complex interaction of layers can be previewed easily on the computer.  Color choices are made later when I am actually interacting with  the cloth.

The resulting patterns can be read as an abstract combination of loosely geometric shapes, or alternately, the figures and illusory space can be seen.  I seek a rich and complex visual experience in which the viewer can be surprised by the discovery of shapes, color changes and multiple ways
of seeing.