Fiber + Form
It took me half a century after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts to understand the beauty of a degree that wasn’t even fully explored when I received it.
I was always curious about and fascinated by different kinds of materials—media—but my instructors insisted I was learning photography, film and audio primarily to be hired as a technician. That seems pretty silly now.
I did manage to sneak a few other classes into my program: fiber arts, batik and a mixed-media painting workshop.
After years of deconstructing a lot of programming about work, relationships, spirituality and just plain living, I now follow my wonder into whatever medium calls to me.
These are some of my experiments this year.
The Rambler
Hand-crocheted natural raffia with a single two-toned, free-form flower and woven handle.
42 inches in circumference and 11 inches high.
Hand-crocheted raffia in five earthen tones, formed into a low oval with a single handle. Weathered Atlantic oyster shells, gathered at Botany Bay during an archaeological expedition exploring the origins of ancient shell rings, fasten the front. Worn and smoothed over centuries, they are embellished with tiny gathered shells. Approximately 21 inches wide and 5 inches high. Lined inside.
The Midden
Sea Oats & Fences
Inspired by a windswept March day at Cape Hatteras in the 1970s—the brilliant blue Atlantic and sky, shifting sand held by weathered dune fences and golden sea oats bending in the wind. Hand-crocheted from natural raffia palm fiber, the openwork pattern recalls those fences and grasses. An oval form with double-woven handles, fastened with a vintage 1950s faux-tortoiseshell Lucite buckle. Approximately 36 inches in circumference and 8 inches high. Solid base with feet.