Organic Symphony
2024
10ft x 7.5ft
Felted wool, foam, masonite board
Organic Symphony
2024
10ft x 7.5ft
Felted wool, foam, masonite board
In the delicate dance between my love for art and nature, my journey has been one of profound passion, purpose, and creative discovery. Along that path, I took a workshop with fiber artist Dr. Darden Bradshaw, and I was introduced to the transformative potential of felting. I immediately fell in love with creating solid forms through a chemical bonding process done with my hands. Early on, my work was focused on creating abstract landscapes and exploring the processes of needle and wet felting with wool. Subsequently, I was able to travel and experience Navajo culture through a school trip. I was exposed to how the Navajo use many botanicals, fruits, and vegetables to naturally dye wool for rugs. The marriage between wool and organic color left me craving a deeper exploration into what colors could be created by the plants around us. I applied for a CURS grant to conduct research by purchasing sheep wool and natural dyes, and I began my creative research on the effects of dyeing wool organically. The dye bath became my sanctuary of blooming colors, each hue imprinted with the essence of the earth.
For my BFA work, I have used the knowledge that I gained from my workshop and CURS research, but I have expanded my dye pallet to include commercially sourced dyes allowing a larger color pallet and hues with greater intensity and saturation. I have transformed my two-dimensional, painterly felted works into sculptural installations, expanding my horizons on what can be accomplished with the medium of wool. My working processes involve placing constructed wet felted works of dyed wool over sculpted armatures that provide a support structure for the felt. I intuitively determine color schemes, celebrating chromatic echoes drawn from natural influences. I then needle felt the textures and details onto these works, drawing inspiration from organic patterns and forms such as mold, fungi, coral, and barnacles. When installed, each of these felted modules unify into a colorful entity, translating into tangible expressions that invite viewers to embrace the interconnection between ideas of color, form, and novel landscape.
Honors and Awards:
Dave Cayton Memorial Scholarship: $500
Surface Design Association: Outstanding Student Award
Publication: Arts Beat: BGSU Arts Events Circles Up the Winners (left)
Publication: Artisonish Magazine, 45th Edition
Permanent Collection: Bowling Green State University