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About the Artist |
 My current work begins with my photographs, many of which were taken at the University of California Botanical Garden. The plants in their collection from all over the world provide me with endless inspiration. The goal of this body of work is to combine weaving and photography in a way that challenges both media. Previously, I had taken photography classes and had used photographs in work that I created using silkscreen on fabric. What I really wanted to do, however, was to create artwork where the image was not merely on the surface but integral to the structure of the piece. My recently acquired AVL/TIS jacquard handloom is the ideal tool for doing this. My process employs a digital camera and Adobe Photoshop to create images that will impart a strong visual impact when woven. Then, using a CAD program called ArahWeave and weave structures I have designed, I translate each photograph into a digital weave file used in controlling the jacquard loom. During the actual handweaving process, the gradual appearance of the image is both exciting and satisfying. I draw upon my background in mathematics, computer programming, photography and weaving. I studied mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at Case Western Reserve University. I also worked as a computer programmer and statistical analyst before returning to school at the California College of the Arts, where I received an M.F.A. in Textiles. All this experience informs my recent work. Using computer-aided design and a variety of materials, I am able to produce weavings that are both highly complex structurally and rich with surface interest. I translate my photographic images of plant forms into wall pieces that resonate with both the art of photography and the long history of textile creation. |