“How do we choose our specific material, our means of communication? Accidentally. Something speaks to us, a sound, a touch, hardness or softness, it catches us and asks us to be formed.” – Anni Albers
Throughout my life, I have been involved in many different forms of art: drawing, painting, sculpture, music, dance. I believe that learning the ins and outs of an artistic medium is like learning the rules of a new language. Every material has its own capabilities and its own limitations, and every artist must discover which one, at any given moment, is their “language”.
Although I had worked in other forms of textile arts, it was not until several years ago, after attending an intensive weekend workshop at the wonderful Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn, NY, that I made the connection with weaving. (And an intense connection it was!) I love the process of design development, the (often painstaking) details of warping the loom, the rhythmic dance of treadling, and the magic that unfolds as the fabric develops before me.
For me, one of the most exciting aspects of being an artist is the unexpected moment when I am suddenly “caught” by something; the repetition of a shadow against a highway overpass; a jar of vibrant zinnias; a sunlit brick wall; a new medium. It is the journey that follows from that moment forward that forms my work. My handwoven textiles are small reflections of a journey.
– Emily
Design inspiration for my textiles is primarily drawn from the natural play of color and light against the strong graphic framework of architectural surfaces - doors, windows, façades.
