The wall of Squeeze & Release.
Gallery view. 2013.
The work in the gallery space tells a story in a clockwise rotation. Starting with The Mantra Curtain in the window, I led the viewer next to a wood panel framed by knots.
Knot Frame (detail). 26" x 26".
Twine on wood panel. 2013.
The knot, for me, is a strong symbol of the way in which my mind gets tangled up with many different thoughts simultaneously flying in all different directions. Our thoughts frame our experiences, and this work is a reminder of that.
Squeeze & Release. 6' x 2'.
Burlap, cheesecloth, and twine. 2013.
This figurative piece represents the ways in which we hold tension in our bodies — in my case, the throat and neck. Our stresses can sometimes create illness in the body (see Your Body Speaks Your Mind by Deb Shapiro). After years and years of stuffing my emotions into my throat, I ended up with thyroid cancer. Now healthy, I am working to release my emotions in other ways.
The Waterfall — A Veil. Installation, 10' x 4'.
Cheesecloth, twine, and wood. 2013.
Many of the pieces in this body of work are inspired by a trip to Washington State’s spectacular coastal rainforest. The symbol of a curtain was forefront in my mind during our trip, so I was able to see them everywhere — especially in a waterfall that cascaded over a cliff onto Third Beach in Olympic National Park.
The piece above cascades over the top of the wall and releases into a pool on the floor. . . perhaps symbolizing the freedom that comes from a sense of “going with the flow.”
The Waterfall, detail.
The Waterfall, detail.
