Artist Statement

I describe my method of creating a quilt as "the art of inclusion," and I use this approach to explore the idea that an artist can give value and meaning to a life's worth of miscellaneous, seemingly forgettable details by caring for them, bringing them together and providing them with the perfect context. 

As part of my quilting process I make and collect innumerable odd, stray elements, and the primary focus of my art is to bring them together in a way that balances care and deliberation with accident and spontaneity. I try to treat each sketch or digital photograph or scrap of fabric or piece of embroidery that I generate as though it is fascinating and important enough for inclusion in a finished work. The challenge involved in treating potentially disposable elements as though they are vital has always been extremely satisfying to me, and I enjoy exploring the relationships that are created by bringing together all the details I've created and held onto, sometimes for many years. My goal is to create rich and intriguing artwork, and to have each piece seem to contain an entire world full of action and meaning, as if it is an illustration in search of a story.

 I have always felt that quilting is the most exciting medium a person could choose because an artist can, quite literally, incorporate elements from any other medium into an art quilt. There are very few techniques I would not try to bring to an art quilt, and I enjoy the challenge of translating between the qualities that define a quilt and the qualities inherent in other media - they often can seem completely contradictory. Quilts have a reputation for being soft, malleable, tactile and durable while other media can often be defined by rigidity, excessive bulk, delicateness, and impermanence. As part of my quest to bring images on paper into my fiber work, I have developed several methods to directly incorporate laminated images into my quilts. I also use unusual techniques to incorporate small found objects, by containing them behind sheer fabric or plastic containers stitched directly to the quilt, or capturing them between the prongs of metal settings normally used for attaching Swarovski crystals. All of the strange techniques I employ contribute to unexpectedly complex quilted surfaces that reward minute investigation.

If you enjoy my work, you can purchase products featuring my images in my Etsy shop.

Contact Info:
If you'd like to get in touch with me, feel free to email me here: lookcloselypress@yahoo.com

 I look foward to hearing from you.