My Prussian grandma taught me to knit and crochet by age 6. My Rhenish grandma taught me to never waste any paper or fabric scraps, ever! Blame her for my sincere, almost clinical ability to ‘make something out of nothing’. My mom exposed me to Egyptian, Roman and European art with many visits to art museums.
My favorite artists are Albrecht Duerer, Paul Klee, Judit Reigl, Lyonel Feininger, Emil Nolde, and many Bauhaus artists. And then there is Josef Beuys – ‘enfant terrible’ in Europe’s post WW II art – German art professor – he ‘dared’ art – my idol for courage!
I create in ‘fiber arts’ as I never took to learning to draw, paint or sculpt well. You will find knitting, sewing by machine or hand, dried plant parts, technical fasteners, zippers, photos and doilies in my works. I memorize textures and images easily, from decades ago even, each for a special art piece. My art can come in any size from 3” x 3” small embroideries to 8 ft x 8 ft hanging art, 2D and 3D, framed at times. It can be knitted, sewn, embroidered, recycled or assembled but rarely glued or wired.
I sketch with my phone – my biggest joy! Some art becomes reality within an afternoon and some will be labored on for months or years.
Poignant, expressive colors and textures as well as open spaces are important in my art as I use contrasts to guide the viewer into and around an art piece.
My hands enjoy techniques and textures and delicate materials. My brain works with the ‘golden cut’ proportions. My heart loves to work with fibers (in the widest interpretation from wire to feathers to fabrics to found objects) because they are a life necessity for man, in order to engage viewers, to humor viewers, to document history of historically female occupations and to commemorate donors of materials and their inspirations.
Daily questions: When, where and DID I cross the threshold from ‘crafts’ to ‘arts’? Can I fully endorse what I just created? Will the viewer find a point of attraction to start looking closer into my art? Can you find treasures that make you visit your own memories of people, events, and feelings?
Always: Thank you for your enthusiastic support!