My abstract work has always revolved around the idea of natural processes of metamorphosis and transformation. In my paintings, drawings, and embroideries, this has translated into explorations of movement, affinity of marks, and a process that embraces free-flowing and intuitive improvisation.
Some of my happiest times creating have been spent with just a pen and paper and a feeling of free expression guiding marks. I was listening to music recently and found myself making these drawings of strange little floating entities. I was thinking about mycelium or jellyfish or cobwebs and they ended up resembling an amalgam of these forms.
These drawings were the impetus for my new wall hanging, which started as an attempt to recreate the movement and forms of the sketches into stitch form. I couched thread scraps and then used other basic stitches, back stitch, french knots and beads to fill in more.
As my design grew I decided to incorporate some dissolving of the composition by cutting holes in the piece with the edges stitched with satin stitch for stability. At this point, I had pillow-cased the embroidery with another piece of linen for backing.
Ultimately, I hung the whole thing on a half-circle macrame frame with a repurposed piece of a scarf to trail towards the floor. I manipulated the fabric to distress and bunch it up and incorporated more holes.
As I finished this piece, I thought a lot about my increasing interest in the interdependence of ecosystems and the change that’s going on all around us, growing, transforming, tendrils extending, touching, connecting, dying, everything in flux.
This wall-hanging will be available in my ACC Online Artist Directory pop-up marketplace from Oct. 3-16!
pithandrootstudio.com 