Preparing for this exhibition has prompted me to reflect on my journey as an artist. Nearly five decades ago, I was introduced to contemporary fiber art by the likes of Magdalena Abakanowicz’s monumental weavings and Michael James’s rhythmic quilts, among much innovation in the movement. As far as fiber goes, I had done a fair bit of domestic hand and machine sewing, but this new wave represented an exciting leap in creative expression. I waded in.

Using fabric and thread as the medium, my work explored imagined interactions of people with their physical environments. For as far back as I can remember, I’ve had enduring visceral reactions to my surroundings. I grew up in a community landmarked with vestiges of industry, working agricultural landscapes, pockets of woodland, all linked by a river. Each setting provided opportunities for solitary and rewarding investigation, a preoccupation throughout my childhood likely accounting for strong place attachments I still recognize.

The materials I’ve chosen for my pieces and the methods of fabrication have evolved over the years, yet my intention has remained. What guides my art-making is discovering elements and attributes of evocative, or provocative, spaces. I visually acknowledge and amplify what I learn. I don’t expect 2D presentations to “capture” a 3D experience, but rather to re-present an image that conveys familiarity, a connection, with the physical environment, whether natural or human-created. Or ideally, conveys harmony with nature and culture in place.