Artist Statement

My art is woven. My exploration and passion for this medium has been a lifelong pursuit. I have experimented with a variety of weaving techniques from ikat (warp faced dyed yarns), rag rug weaving, tablet weaving, and surface design (woven shibori) but my primary body of work and art is with tapestry.

Tapestry has a rich history and ranges from classic European tapestries to ancient Coptic and Peruvian traditions. My original inspiration and influence is the graphic complexity and elegance of the Navajo weaving aesthetic. The dazzling designs created by Navajo weavers were my first teachers and I owe my own intuitive style of designing from studying and appreciating their weavings.

My work is not Navajo but it has the kind of energy, vibrancy, and spirit that I find in Navajo rugs. I design on the loom—this process is interconnected to the actual woven process—and the interplay of color, line and negative space are the building blocks of my tapestries.

For the past 15 years I have been experimenting with the Navajo wedge weave technique and eccentric weaves to create graphic, abstract pieces with dynamic movement. With these techniques, instead of weaving perpendicular to the warp (the lengthwise or selvedge direction), as is usual for tapestry, I weave at an angle to the warp. By building up a small triangle on one edge, and changing colors as I weave across the warp, I can create an unending variety of stripes, chevrons and zigzags. A byproduct of this technique is the scalloped selvedges, caused by the skewing of the warps and wefts that adds another dimension to the work. Vivid color, contrast, line, and asymmetric design are elements that continue to intrigue me and these techniques allow for an intuitive and spontaneous approach.

My tapestries are abstract and symbolic representations of a frame of mind, an imagined environment or an abstracted architectural form. The lines and forms are a part of a personal calligraphy and convey a suggestion of layers and depth, of things hidden and behind, of kinetic movement and space, and impermanence.

Although, the process of weaving is slow my challenge is to create dynamic pieces that seem to emanate with energy and movement. For me the exploration of this medium is an ongoing creative process. I am always excited to see where the next tapestry will lead.