Over/Under: The Art of Tapestry

“OVER/UNDER” is a tapestry weaving exhibition that explores the exciting process of creating a tapestry. It is my view of the world expressed through small vignettes and large impressions from a tapestry weaver’s point of view. Accompanying the exhibition is a six minute video and several paintings that demonstrate the whole process. As the weaver, this medium is as much about the process as the product. Once the design is final, the loom dressed, the cartoon drawn (a design guide), and the yarn blended with several shades of color, the weaving begins.

The designs were developed from my travels and the area in which I live. Continuing my study, I began to “push the grid” of the woven structure. For example, in “Aspen Grove,” I manipulated the weaving for more dimension. Tapestry is woven from the bottom up, similar to creating a sculpture. With this concept, the large 3-D trees were developed, designed, and woven, and then constructed with the idea of creating an environment where you are able to walk among a garden. I challenged myself to use only discarded non-biodegradable materials, such as garden hoses, electrical cords, wire, bicycle tubes, etc. Over the years, I have acquired a collection of non-functional items for this project.

Many traits separate tapestry from other art forms. The textures made with blended yarn create a distinctive overall surface. Tapestry is defined “as a discontinuous weft-faced woven structure that creates an image.” A portion of the exhibition is focused on the process (the video) and the expansiveness of this art form.