MFA Project Proposal
“Sanctuary”

My proposal is a celebration of nature in its most organic state. It is an acknowledgement of the loss of the pure beauty of nature untouched. It is also an acknowledgement of man’s disconnection with nature and the acknowledgement of something much larger. Last summer I participated in a weekend long silent retreat. As I sat under a tree sketching I was touched by the almost spiritual connection I had with my surrounding environment. Nature was both a respite from my busy suburban life, and for me, a reminder of a Creator of things more grand than anything I could come up with. I realized nature provides somewhat of a chapel for me. This connection renewed my desire to spend more time outdoors in more natural surroundings.


Often nature is something taken for granted, something to visit when there is time, and tear down when something new seems to be in order. Nature is rearranged to our liking. The intricate and beautiful details of the natural environment are traded in for neatly arranged rows of trees and flower beds. The relationship to natural environment is distant. This distance makes it easier to dispose of the natural and deny or forget about the existence of any higher order. My MFA project proposal speaks about the connection of nature and spirit. The desire to get closer to one spawns the desire to take better care of the other.

The first project I’d like to create is to consist of large textile pieces that revolve around my own experiences with nature in various nature sanctuaries. In the past my paintings have made up close reference to the settings nature is viewed in (gardens, nature reserves, parks). I would like to draw from some of these same places, such as Corkscrew Swamp in Florida. The swamp appears brown, charred and lifeless from the road. It is easy to drive by without really noticing it. Once inside it is recognizable as a vibrant source of life. It is a beautifully complex ecosystem with roots and vines intertwining like a complex layer of thread and lace. Much of Florida’s wildlife is intricately tied to the swamp and depends on its existence. The protected swamp and sanctuary allows this small area of land to be viewed and appreciated in a way that creates as little impact as possible on the land.

Initially I plan to create at least three large textile panels each up to 8’ tall. I have been experimenting with mesh and free-motion machine stitching (free-hand drawing with the machine in thread) to get a feel for how long my project may take. This experimentation has also given me some ideas as to what materials might work with this project.

I’ve created two small works from scenes at Corkscrew Swamp in mesh. I created them initially to be sure I could manage this on a larger scale. The first piece I created was “Veiled”. This is a free-motion machine embroidered piece created to mimic the appearance of black lace. It is a tribute to the beauty of the swamp. Created with reference to a black veil it also symbolizes the recognition of the loss of the sacred and sacred places to modern life.

My piece “Untouched” is more a celebration of the organic beauty of a natural surrounding untouched by man. It was created again with free-motion machine embroidery. The piece is framed with bridal lace. This use of bridal lace and white is symbolic of the beauty of the untouched and ceremony of the sacred.

Two artists in particular have influenced this project. The first is Alexis Rockman. Rockman’s paintings highlight the way humans impact environment. Rockman travels the world and spends a great deal of time in natural environments. He worked on a project with the Brazilian government and the Smithsonian to make more people aware of the effects of deforestation of the rainforest. (Rockman 181). Rather than show the negative impact of humans, I’d like to remind of the beauty of nature. I’d like to show nature as a reminder of something greater than the self.

Another artist that makes note of our modern exchange with nature is Roxy Paine. His outdoor sculptures and installations are re-creations of complex systems such as trees, plumbing and veins (Met Museum). His environments are about the man-made and mechanical coinciding and existing with complex natural systems. The artist says about his work, “Each of these systems also represents a distinct way that the world is framed, that we frame the world, that we try and understand the world.” (Guzman) My work is also about man’s interaction with nature, the way we “frame” it to be viewed from a distance rather than interact with it. I suggest that if man spends more time in nature, thus creating more of a connection, there would be a greater desire to preserve it. I would like to show an environment less impacted and more respected by humans.

Distillation, 2010 Stainless steel, glass, paint and pigment, Roxy Paine
To create my pieces I would like to audit a fiber art class to learn new techniques. Use of the printmaking lab and a silk screening course would also add to the project. After this first project, I hope to create dimensional pieces. In order to do this I would like to take a sculpture class to learn to create forms to use as the base for my pieces. I would also like to learn more about installation art and art for public spaces.

I realize that the materials used in my proposal are different from the prints and oil paints I have used in the past. I would like for my materials to relate more to my subject. I created the first mesh and thread pieces as the appearance of the roots and limbs of the swamp reminded me of thread and lace. The use of textiles and fibers fashioned in a way that reminds of religious ceremony is how I hope to complete the pieces in this first project. I hope to continue to explore with a variety of materials and themes in the future.

With this proposal my pieces are not created with the gallery or sale in mind. I see them more in public spaces. I hope to bring more of my mindset into the work through the materials I choose. The pieces in this proposal encourage the viewer to slow down and really look at and draw from what is in front of him or her. Maybe this connection with nature and the Creator of it will curb the impulse to change or ignore the destruction of nature and the soul. It comes from the belief there is much more to life than bricks and mortar.

Bibliography
Guzman, Alissa, "Interview with Roxy Paine" White Hot Magazine, November 1, 2010. February 2011. http://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/2010-interview-with-roxy-paine/2161
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue. New York, New York. www.metmuseum.org, 2000-2011.
Rockman, Alexis. Alexis Rockman. New York, New York: The Monacelli Press, Inc., 2003