Connecting art with the natural elements of a place to deepen connection, understanding, and experience in life
As an author, fiber artist, walker, and longtime resident of Seattle's Eastside, I enjoy sharing ideas and inspiration for connecting with place and creating art that reflects the beauty of Pacific Northwest nature.
Two projects, Rootedness and The Forest Lady, are the current focus of my art activities.
The Rootedness Project
With a focus on how Northwest native trees provide a metaphor for our life's journey, I developed four art quilts on the theme of Rootedness. These quilts were presented to positive public response in an artist open house day on December 7, 2022 at Issaquah Highlands Blakely Hall.
I also organized and co-curated an invitational exhibit on the Rootedness theme, which displayed the work of seven local painting and drawing artists.
These quilts are now available for display as part of an artist presentation and public art-making activity, designed for a local art center, art museum, environmental center, or similar community organization. For details, contact me: janice @ writespark.com
About the Rootedness Quilts
The four art quilts in the Rootedness series show how Northwest native trees provide a rich and insightful metaphor for our connections to life and place. Intertwined roots that run deep, create a web, sustain others. Deep roots that help a tree stand firm during storms and regenerate after fire. Strong roots that help a tree grow tall towards the sun.
I am attracted to the simple lines and shapes of abstract art; influences include the early 20th-century painters Emily Carr and Georgia O’Keeffe. As a quilter, I create designs and stitching that present a sense of rustic, handmade texture. The quilts incorporate techniques of art quilting, textile collage and art knitting, and combine new with rescued or repurposed materials.
The Forest Lady Project
I am developing a character called The Forest Lady as a way to engage the interest of adults and kids in learning about and protecting the native trees and plants in Pacific Northwest forests.
I designed and made an artistic coat to introduce The Forest Lady at the Sammamish Earth Day celebration in April 2022. The coat educates with fabric shapes of tree leaves, branches and roots, as well as yarn strands to show fungal networks. Rustic stitching lines show visually appealing silhouette shapes when the coat is worn inside out. These lines also serve an educational purpose, as they convey the concept of "ghost" trees created by climate change.
I will continue to create quilts and other fiber art pieces that incorporate these elements into new images and meaning. I'm also developing presentations and workshops for bringing the Forest Lady to local groups.