The Destiny of The Wild Fig Tree Installation

The work of Antonin Gaudi is extremely inspirational to me. I especially enjoy the hivelike quality of his windows. Upon seeing amate bark paper, I knew I wanted to create my own Gaudi windows in a series, coupled with softer, more organic tones for the rest of the piece.This Triptych is cotton, silk, mohair, and wool. Technique: Hand-turned, mixed media assemblage. Holes drilled for hanging or suspension. The totems can be installed vertically or horizontally in any order. Pictured on interior wall. This totem series was featured at Florence Art and Design Week, Masters of Contemporary Art in Montagnac, France, and Art Basel art Week Miami. My passion is creating cylindrical pieces of fiber architecture I call totems, which I create using methods and materials traditionally found in fiber art and marrying them with unconventional methods and materials. A cylindrical core wraps itself in a tapestry of fiber and interesting elements that bring vision to life. I’m excited about the practice of using something industrial to build something tactile and visually appealing. I create my totems using materials traditionally found in fiber art and marrying them with unconventional materials. My vision is a departure from traditional fiber works while employing some traditional methods. Starting with a cylindrical canvas and creating a tapestry of fiber and other elements that I find interesting. Metals, bark, insect parts, papers, etc. have been used in addition to traditional fibers to bring my vision to life. The viewer will often ask the story of my totems, the inspiration, and sometimes what they are. They are interacting with me and the totems, visually, intellectually, emotionally, and tactilely. This opens a dialogue that delves deeply into my personal life and creative process. This is often difficult for me as the creative experience is my personal experience. I did attend college for fine arts, but it taught me very little about assemblage works or the skills needed to create them. These handmade pieces are time consuming. It can sometimes take weeks to get the idea in my head to materialise into a piece. I sometimes have concrete visions but I do not know the mechanics of how to produce it. I find myself working in materials or with tools that I never knew I would need to bring the pieces to fruition. The vision may evolve through trial and error. It is always a journey. Though it is difficult it is fulfilling. In the end I want the viewer to experience totems and I want my pieces to create a conversation.