"The High Cost of Tobacco," mixed media fiber (needle felting, embroidery, bead embroidery)
I'm an asthmatic originally from Kentucky, with people who smoked in the house and car with me. My grandfather had emphysema and smoked. We think my other grandfather had undiagnosed throat cancer. The tobacco industry profited and continues to profit off addiction, cancer, and lung disease. Fuck that shit.
After the election in November, I needed to remind myself that I've seen this bullshit before, and I will fight. I will rise from the ashes. From Sylvia Plath's "Lady Lazarus" Ash, ash— You poke and stir. Flesh, bone, there is nothing there—— A cake of soap, A wedding ring, A gold filling. Herr God, Herr Lucifer Beware Beware. Out of the ash I rise with my red hair And I eat men like air. "Out of the Ash," thread embroidery and bead weaving.
"Not Real Art/Imposter Syndrome." This is a very personal piece for me, and one of the inspirations for the series I'm currently working on. The artist in the middle is me, slowly unraveling, as I feel uncomfortable among the other art.
A lot of the mediums I use are seen as inherently "feminine" or as "craft" instead of "art." How many prospectuses have I read that don't include jewelry in accepted mediums? How many shows have you been to where fiber art or textiles are mitigated to the crafts section instead of fine art? For years I felt like I was swimming upstream. I have seen a change recently at shows and galleries which has me waiting with bated breath to see if the tide is actually changing or if the light at the end of the tunnel is actually the train coming at me.
"Not Real Art/Imposter Syndrome," ©2024, Mixed media (glass, thread, acrylic, wood, vinyl on canvas)
Artist statement - Growing up, I was a "quiet, gifted kid," a girl who tore through books, got things done, took up hobby upon hobby and got involved in a plethora of extracurricular activities. I wasn't driven, I was afraid of sitting still, of being quiet and having time to think. The spiral was and is still real.
"ADHD Spiral," (c)2024, mixed media embroidery (watercolor, embroidery thread, tulle, and glass on cotton)
'do you think you're superior for not using AI in your work' thank you for asking! yes i do
Just finished this piece inspired by Old Gods of Appalachia. I'm thinking of calling it "The Green and the Dark" or "Tenuous Balance." Thoughts?
Glass, acrylic and cotton on cotton
Ahhhhhhhhh. "Tenuous Balance" won first place in the Force of Nature exhibit. Still flying high from the reception last night.
It sold! Got a text from a friend at the gallery yesterday ❤️ (And I'm pretty sure that Steve Shell liked and commented on my insta post, which might have made me a wee bit giddy.)
I've always been fascinated by hot air balloons. The Kentucky Derby has the Great Balloon Glow and Race, I drove through New Mexico during the Balloon Fiesta, and my former home of Marion County started a balloon glow not too long before I left during Ham Days. The colors, the shapes, the way they rely on Mother Nature to get where they need to go.
Hot air balloons were used for reconnaissance and directing artillery fire during the Civil War. In fact, there was a Union Army Balloon Corps!
This scene recalls Dorothy's exodus from Oz, flying over the fields in Kansas, but this time, she got to bring the Technicolor with her.
Back to Kansas, (c)2024, mixed media (needle felted wool, sari silk, glass, acrylic, laser-cut wood)
It's done, and I'm so happy with it. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the mix of beaded and felt leaves, but I really like it.
Created for a show called "Force of Nature."
"Nature Reclaiming," (c)2024, mixed media embroidery (felt, glass, cotton, nylon, PVA), 6" hoop, 9" diameter framed
Official dandelion post
@OP, thank you for inspiring me.
Crochet dandelion. 100% cotton, 2.75mm hook
I love it!