Punto in Aria
I named Punto in Aria, which means stitches in the air, after a type of needle lace that doesn’t require a framework for support.
Needle lace is made with a single thread and needle and myriad buttonhole stitches, which is a lot like the basic tools and repeated motions I use to burn and carve my blocks.
I see lacework as something belonging to women. It’s one of the few fiber arts made by women with a connotation of great worth. Like my prints, its motifs tend toward flora and fauna. And like my carving, it’s intricate and requires a lot of skill and dedication to create it.
Punto in Aria is my fancywork.
I chose the term for this print series for both its negative and positive connotations.
For on one hand, fancywork is a dismissive term for fiber art by women. It is important to me to remind myself and others that womanmade artworks have traditionally been ignored and belittled. Even now, few female artists are represented in major arts collections and histories.
And on the other hand, one’s fancywork is one’s best work.
It is easy to see the level of technical mastery, the artistry, and the dedication required to create such finely detailed works
I named Punto in Aria, which means stitches in the air, after a type of needle lace that doesn’t require a framework for support.
Needle lace is made with a single thread and needle and myriad buttonhole stitches, which is a lot like the basic tools and repeated motions I use to burn and carve my blocks.
I see lacework as something belonging to women. It’s one of the few fiber arts made by women with a connotation of great worth. Like my prints, its motifs tend toward flora and fauna. And like my carving, it’s intricate and requires a lot of skill and dedication to create it.
Punto in Aria is my fancywork.
I chose the term for this print series for both its negative and positive connotations.
For on one hand, fancywork is a dismissive term for fiber art by women.
It is important to me to remind myself and others that womanmade artworks have traditionally been ignored and belittled. Even now, few female artists are represented in major arts collections and histories.
And on the other hand, one’s fancywork is one’s best work.
It is easy to see the level of technical mastery, the artistry, and the dedication required to create such finely detailed works
Media: Wood relief print on mulberry paper
Size: 15” h x 15″ w
Edition: Work in Progress
Series: Fancywork
Punto in Aria is a work in progress–an original relief print on mulberry paper in three colors made from three woodburned and carved oak plywood blocks.
To learn more about relief printing, please visit my About Prints page.
