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
Roots provide a rich and insightful metaphor for our connections to life and place. Running deep, creating a web, sustaining life. Intertwined roots to help a tree stand firm during storms. Putting down strong roots even while growing tall towards the sun.
As you can see in the quilts, I am attracted to the simple lines and shapes of abstract art. You might notice the influence of the early 20th-century painters Emily Carr and Georgia O’Keefe in my designs. But as a quilter, I am also attracted to patterns and stitching that give a sense of texture, which you can see if you look at the quilts closely.
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Roots of Connection This quilt shows our three most common native trees: Western Red Cedar, Red Alder, and Big Leaf Maple. Scientists have discovered that trees can communicate and help each other through their interconnected root systems, even across species. I believe that by developing a strong sense of rootedness in place and community, we too nourish ourselves and others. |
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Deeply Rooted The long taproot through the layers of soil shows how we can develop strength by going deeper and extending our reach in the many layers of our lives. I had the idea for this quilt first, most likely influenced by the small geological layers quilt I created as a design exercise a few years ago. Reach deep into our roots and know that we will find water. |
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Rooted in Fire This quilt shows how the Big Leaf Maple will regenerate itself even if a fire burns it to the root ball. To me it is a sign of how nature always offers strength and resilience for any life test of fire. |
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Rooted Above and Below Some trees, like the Sitka Spruce, can grow roots in their upper canopy branches. For me, that capability is a metaphor about having a sense of rootedness in both physical (below) and spiritual (above) dimensions. |
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.
