Textile Study Group

New Work: Bridging Personal and Environmental Motivations

 “Disappearing Islands” is a new body of artwork that addresses the issue of sea level rise, and serves as a personal meditation on the impermanence of all things. Developing woven art that draws on coastal and ocean themes helps to keep me connected to my heritage and my homeland, which feels increasingly important as my parents age and my siblings build families of their own. The series began at Penland School of Crafts during summer 2017 and quickly informed a series of larger “canvases” that are handwoven in the ondulé method, and incorporate natural dyes, textile paint, embroidery and other techniques. This talk will discuss the making and the motivation of the artwork in terms of environmental statement, personal meaning, and technical aspects.

 Amy Putansu is a textile artist and educator from mid-coast Maine, where her family still lives and has for generations. While Amy sometimes feels a sense of displacement living in the Smoky Mountains for the past decade, her position as Instructor in Professional Craft Fiber at Haywood Community College (Clyde) is entirely rewarding as she has enjoyed working with dozens of dedicated fiber students. This rich engagement grounds her in western North Carolina.