The Crowded Space Between Thoughts

Title: The Crowded Space Between Thoughts

Techniques and Materials: Machine pieced and quilted reclaimed African hand-dyed cotton, “Cherrywood” hand-dyed cotton, over-dyed silk ribbon, African hand-dyed and wax print cotton; hand-stitching.

Artwork Statement: I acquired a few lots of African textiles in an auction of the estate of a collector which I am judiciously putting to use in my work. Some of the cloth had already been made into articles of clothing (which I carefully disassembled); some of it was pristine. I love the way textiles age with wear and repeated cleaning. The reclaimed indigo, in this case, contrasts nicely with the original much deeper blue and the accents and binding in the gold and blue wax print. I made the silk ribbon from a silk skirt that had been over-dyed in this lovely purple. I’ve become very enamored with this technique (twisted silk ribbon couched to the surface) of mark-making. I enjoy the texture and the detail it can create. It’s a time consuming way to make simple marks but it’s also satisfying on a number of levels.

Purchase inquiries welcome!