Studio Insights
Historical knitting circles are precursors of today’s craftivist movement
The Knit Democracy Together gatherings relate back to historical knitting circles where women came together to knit for a social purpose. From American Independence to women’s suffrage, knitters took action.
Art, not yarn bombing
The curators of the Kent Museum invited me to yarn bomb the lamppost that stands outside the historic tavern. So I knit electric yellow lace panels to cover the glass faces of the lantern. My intention was to use this art installation to shed light on how we produce electricity.
Gloved hands in knitted sculpture
You can find identifiable clothing forms in some of my sculptures. Since I work with knitting, the connection is pretty natural. I use gloves, in particular, to represent people.
Capturing invasive Japanese Knotweed in sculpture
Have you ever been attracted to something beautiful and dangerous? That was the case with the nineteenth-century gardeners who brought Japanese Knotweed to Europe and the United States. They were drawn in by the elegant shape of the large leaves and the graceful spray of white flowers.
Learning about Racism from Artist Nick Cave
Artist Nick Cave made his first sculptural costumes, called Soundsuits, in direct response to the 1992 beating of Rodney King. Now, in June 2020, I find myself reflecting on Cave’s messages about race as the world erupts in protest over police killings of people of color.