a r t i s t s t a t e m e n t
i make my art for myself but not selfishly. in displaying my work, i try to elicit the same feelings i have about it in the viewer. having always been the creating-type, it is a natural part of my life, but I still relish the artistic process—being able to work steadily and deeply on something. this year, as a senior, i am considering higher art education and a degree in art with a focus on textile design and fabrication.
when it comes to the content of a piece, i don’t limit myself but, instead, let it come to me through the process and materials. emphasis on process. something finished is fine, but isn’t there art in the making of it? i think of the stitching, the painting, the act of doing as an element that cannot be forgotten. when it comes to the materials, i use what i already have. not only does this add beautiful layers—like a weaving made of yarn that was given to me by my grandmother—but it is a very small act against our single-use culture of waste. nature has a way of working itself into my art as well, much like grass growing in the sidewalk cracks. botanical illustration, i have found, elevates nature, details their details in a not-too-stylized way so the viewer can appreciate the world around them at a smaller scale. i’d like to apply that same kind of study to my life and other works of art. with my textile pieces, i am hoping to confront the viewer. the fabric in our lives is often forgotten, but now, i believe, is the time for people to know what they're wearing, who made their clothes, and the impact one shirt may have.
this past summer, after a textiles camp at north carolina state university and a month-long stay in france, i created a small weaving that combined those two experiences. hesitant before to pick up a loom and try weaving, this time i did a little research, made my own from old canvas stretchers, and began. it’s been my new medium, and one i am thoroughly enjoying leaning into. my long-long-term goal is to explore more textile arts besides the familiar sewing, knitting, and weaving, while still giving special focus to the installation and the display of my processes. growth in my art and identity as an artist will take a lot of re-reading coach hall’s old rubric notes for advice, working in my sketchbook more, and a healthy dose of patience. but it will come.
i make my art for myself but not selfishly. in displaying my work, i try to elicit the same feelings i have about it in the viewer. having always been the creating-type, it is a natural part of my life, but I still relish the artistic process—being able to work steadily and deeply on something. this year, as a senior, i am considering higher art education and a degree in art with a focus on textile design and fabrication.
when it comes to the content of a piece, i don’t limit myself but, instead, let it come to me through the process and materials. emphasis on process. something finished is fine, but isn’t there art in the making of it? i think of the stitching, the painting, the act of doing as an element that cannot be forgotten. when it comes to the materials, i use what i already have. not only does this add beautiful layers—like a weaving made of yarn that was given to me by my grandmother—but it is a very small act against our single-use culture of waste. nature has a way of working itself into my art as well, much like grass growing in the sidewalk cracks. botanical illustration, i have found, elevates nature, details their details in a not-too-stylized way so the viewer can appreciate the world around them at a smaller scale. i’d like to apply that same kind of study to my life and other works of art. with my textile pieces, i am hoping to confront the viewer. the fabric in our lives is often forgotten, but now, i believe, is the time for people to know what they're wearing, who made their clothes, and the impact one shirt may have.
this past summer, after a textiles camp at north carolina state university and a month-long stay in france, i created a small weaving that combined those two experiences. hesitant before to pick up a loom and try weaving, this time i did a little research, made my own from old canvas stretchers, and began. it’s been my new medium, and one i am thoroughly enjoying leaning into. my long-long-term goal is to explore more textile arts besides the familiar sewing, knitting, and weaving, while still giving special focus to the installation and the display of my processes. growth in my art and identity as an artist will take a lot of re-reading coach hall’s old rubric notes for advice, working in my sketchbook more, and a healthy dose of patience. but it will come.
