The structures I compose are studies of materials and our fundamental relationship to them. I use traditional textile-based media: I spin my own yarn, mix my own color dyes, and weave my own constructions. I integrate historical methods of color dye and yarn and textile construction alongside surprising technologies and modern alternatives like computer code and fiber reactive pigments. My recent projects incorporate materials from the seemingly extreme natural to the extreme synthetic and I make choices with density, color, and kinetics to demonstrate materiality and the depth of possibility in the natural world. I use abstraction which I derive from world geography and statistical mapping and my work takes the form of sculptural installation, wall hanging, performance, and socially engaged work. I am interested in using weaving as code and language and my work seeks to connect common materials like textiles to common behaviors like communication. Conceptually, my work is rooted in the history of technology and its connection to gender, food, and craft. I use the stories of the past with the mood of the present to create experiential artworks that speculate on the future.
"Natural Synthetics" is an ongoing series of explorations taking the form of studies, woven paintings and immersive experiences which examine how our relationship with consumable materials mirrors social dynamics and current politics. Through both literal and figurative interpretations, I seek to (re)define what is considered "natural" or "synthetic" using a range of materials from analog to futuristic, digital, modern, and even intangible. During my time on the island, I will focus on material experiments and social research/reading within the structure and history of natural bath and vat dye. This dedicated time will allow me to deepen my understanding of pigment methodologies and explore its nuances and delicate procedures, especially in comparison to synthetic pigments and fibers. I intend to create a sample/guide book that responds to the local landscape to be shared with the community and future guests.
