Why do something slow and labor-intensive in this mechanized modern world? That is the thread of inquiry I have followed for the last few decades, while honing my skills as a textile artist.
My favorite tool is a simple wooden floor loom. It has no motor, no plug. It is an ancient tool. The longer I weave, the more impressed I am by the knowledge embedded in this technology.
I love doing something archaic. Old fashioned. Out of step with the pace of modern society. When seated at the loom time slows way down. I witness the accretion of moment upon moment, breath upon breath, in the laying in of thread upon thread.
Making art is my way of addressing the fundamental WHY of human existence. My deepest drive is to understand this life. Make sense of it, make it and myself whole. When I first sat down at the loom, I knew that I could practice this act forever and never be finished. I felt the draw of thousands of possibilities, all insisting on being explored.
Bringing together this show has given me the opportunity to pause and reflect on the creative life I’ve stitched together in Colorado. I wouldn’t be here without the support of many creative institutions. For starters: Jefferson County’s commitment to art education in public schools gave me early opportunities to hone my skills and exhibit my work. It’s no small thing for young artists’ work to be seen in shows like the Arvada Center’s annual Jeffco high school art show.
Arts non-profits played a pivotal role in my growth as an artist, in education and in showing opportunities. Steamboat Creates and the Ah Haa School in Telluride provided me crucial support. Membership in Co-op art galleries gave me experience in developing bodies of work for show. When I was finally ready, Space Gallery in Denver gave me the opportunity to bridge from the world of craft to the world of fine art, which had always been a goal for me.
At the state level, my hat is eternally off to former Governor Hickenlooper and the staff of Colorado Creative Industries, in recognizing the contribution of the arts as an economic driver in our state. I am hugely grateful to the Arvada Center and its focus on contemporary Colorado artists. And finally to my mom, who taught me how to weave.
