Yesterday we opened the doors to our MFA studios and shared our work with faculty, students, and the public. It was very interesting to see the range of reactions to my work depending on the background of each individual. Many of my visitors saw the connection of my patterned practice in relation to textiles, fabric, quilting, and printmaking.
I found myself explaining my process and the evolution of my work since first starting in the MFA program. My work has changed and progressed quite a bit over the course of two semesters. Being able to see the wide range of work I've created this year has allowed me to see the connections that exist within all of my work. The route of my practice is in pattern formation and obsession with details. Oliver Botar (Art History Professor) linked the idea of "horror vacui" to my obsession with pattern, which simply means "the fear of empty space". The focused meditative process of filling empty spaces with repeated lines and shapes has always been a calming ritual act that has helped me cope with stress and anxiety. Getting lost in the process takes my mind to a place without worry, its a place I can escape to whenever I feel the need to do so. Being in control of the creative process gives me a sense of calm and satisfaction, something I can relate to in almost all aspects of my life.
Pattern making is a process with infinite possibilities. Anything and everything can be repeated in order to create a new pattern. Everywhere I look I am able to find inspiration, while waiting for people to stop by my studio I found myself taking photos on my phone. Sometimes I can find inspiration in the places I never thought I would find it, such as the tape left behind after taking down some of my work.
