Pattern Frenzy
Patterns have influenced my work significantly over the years. Awe inspiring patterns in nature have always captured my attention. In the leaves and blossoms from the apple tree next door, the sand and the waves in the Great Lakes, and the birch trees in the woods by my Grandfather’s house, with their bark of white and black spots.
When I was a young girl I loved clothes with patterns. I would often wear mismatched patterns in my shirt and skirt ensembles to school, much to my mother’s dismay. She on the other hand filled our home with color and playful 1960’s wall paper. She put something very much like the image below in our bathroom next to the antique tiles.
So mixing and matching was somehow handed down. She also did decoupage in the basement of our home. I would watch her cut out very detailed images for her boxes. I didn’t realize until recently that my use of papers reminds me of her work.
When I describe what inspires my artistic expression I always include my love for and fascination with Moroccan and Islamic tiles.
These artistic building blocks link art and mathematics, making possible design intricacies and breathtaking structures. The reverence innate in the work for the art reaches far beyond the artisans themselves to serve those who have the privilege of dwelling in the space. Making the tiles is extremely arduous work requiring patience and hard labor. This process in itself is inspiring.
