Dorothy Gill Barnes
Summer Series Visiting Artist Residency: August 13 – 17, 2008
Conversation with Artist: Sunday, August 17, 2pm

Artist Statement

My intent is to construct a vessel or related object using materials respectfully harvest from nature. Nature’s variety – including fine fern stems and heavy chunks of wood, bark or stone – provides a rich cache of supplies, often almost overpowering in stimulation and opportunity for design. My processes include traditional weaving techniques and experimentation. Small needles and power tools in the studio enable me to create 2-inch miniatures and pieces 10 feet long. Some works could be made in half an hour, and others planned, grown, cut and constructed over a period of years. The result may be an ephemeral or an archival work. The unique properties I find in gathered materials suggest a process for each piece.

My work in this medium started in the early /70’s, encouraged by Ruth Mary Papenthien, Jack Lenor Larson, my husband Marshall, and those who offered wonderful gathering opportunities. I was excited by the work of Ed Rossbach and later John McQueen, who set a standard for many using materials from nature.

I hope that my structures, some of which are basketlike, honor the growing things from which they came.

Residency statement

I will be a Visiting Artist at Pilchuck Glass School July 1 – 18, 2008. My residency will be determined by work at Pilchuck. I hope to relate to materials in nature in Washington state and also to summer harvest in Ohio.

My intent at this time will be to enhance wood and fiber by encasing fragile textile/fiber constructions in glass covering shapes. They will be designed to hold, protect and often leave process marks, burns, etc. intact.

The wood will remain as part of the pieces. I prefer to respond to what I find on location. It could be heavy wood or delicate moss.