“Club V” Exhibition Opening and Following Threads
“Roots” [2023], 30x40 on 1 5/8” cradled wood panel
I’m really looking forward to another fantastic opening at The Ford Gallery this Friday (March 3, 6-9pm) - “Club V” features art exclusively by women artists from the region. Backcountry Wine Bar will be serving wines by women winemakers, and two female DJs will be setting the vibe. My painting “Roots“ (above, click through to learn more) will be included alongside a wide array of beautiful work from 40 talented local artists. The evening promises to be a fun event, I do hope you can join in the fun!
January’s opening for “Go Big or Go Home” was a smashing success with an upbeat crowd turning out for the show - people began pouring in as the doors opened at 6pm, and mingled in the wine bar long after the 9pm closing. My piece, “Last Light” (below) sold within the first half hour, which was a fun surprise!
“Last Light” [2022], 36x48 mixed media on 1 5/8” cradled wood panel
I’ve completed one additional large work in this series so far in 2023, “Altered Course” (below). This body of work, that I’m titling “Following Threads”, finds inspiration in places I love and allows my latest obsession, weaving, to influence the patterns and overall compositions.
“Altered Course” [2023], 36x48 on 1 5/8” cradled wood panel
I’ve literally followed the thread of my weaving obsession this winter, deep diving into a weaving and natural dyeing course in the Fine Arts department at Portland State University taught by master weaver, Shelley Socolofsky. Not only has this course shown me the ins and outs of setting up and weaving on an eight shaft floor loom, but it has opened my eyes to the rich and interesting history of this craft. Shelley is a fantastic professor and has allowed me to experiment with the open, irregular weaves and organic pulled thread manipulation that has fascinated me for a while. It has been transformational to be back in a rigorous art program after more than thirty years and I’m looking forward to integrating these elements more fully into my work.
Given that I’ve spent January and February taking MAX back and forth between my studio at the Ford Building and the weaving studio at PSU, when the opportunity arose to purchase a beautiful floor loom of my own, Scott encouraged me to jump on it. The loom was built in the 70s in Colorado and belonged to a monk at the women’s monastery at Mt. Angel Abbey, south of Portland. When the monk was in her 90s and no longer able to weave it was gifted to a local woman, a now-retired priest and lifelong weaver, who loved and used it for 15 years until she also decided it was time to pass it along. I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel to be able to inherit this eight shaft maple structure!
Scott and I spent a whole day dismantling this baby, carting it home in multiple trips, and then carefully reassembling it in our condo living room (last photo). It’s a tight fit for now, but it will be nice to be able to create at home again - there will be plenty of space for it in our Mosier home, which we will break ground on this spring/summer.
I’m working toward two small group shows this summer and fall - more details about those are coming soon! In the meantime, I hope to see you this Friday at The Ford Gallery opening - if you’d like to schedule a different time to visit the show or my studio please don’t hesitate to reach out!