Multiple Elements

An exhibition featuring works by Jennie Frederick

January 5th – February 16th

With an opening reception 01.05.24 5-8 PM

“I am interested in the notion of textile structure as marker, using line, repetition, texture, and symbol—particularly the circle—to represent events in time. My work holds influences and memories gathered in my observation and research

of indigenous textile and papermaking techniques in Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Peru. My works become dimensional drawings or artifacts symbolizing people, places, and actions.

The work begins with my cooking kozo (mulberry) fiber until pliable enough to form into gridded sub-structures. Once flattened and dried, I use these structures as the base for tying, sewing, or weaving on more fibers and other materials such as thread, plastic, and wire to build up the dimension of the works. These additional elements play against the grid of the substructure while allowing the finished work to appear light, open, and linear rather than solid.

Recently, I began using encaustic (beeswax, damar resin, and pigment) in my work, either by adding it directly to the kozo fibers or by printing encaustic monotypes with positive and negative impression of the fibers. Some works become reliefs when I sew the actual fibers used for printing onto monotypes made with those fibers.

My studies of the ancient crafts of textiles and papermaking have given me an appreciation of their cultural resonance that underlies my contemporary art making. I have transformed the functional emphasis into abstractions based on the union of organic elasticity and ordered complexity.”- Jennie Frederick