HANDS, HEAD and HEART
Ojai Valley Museum
March 21st – June 8th, 2025
I was part of a group show curated by Carol Shaw-Sutton Shaw at the Ojai Valley Museum, titled “Hands, Head, Heart: Ojai Fiber,” highlighting the “value of handcraft in our cultural consciousness. This exhibition serves as both a showcase and a statement, celebrating the intricate art of fiber crafts and their crucial role in our cognitive and cultural development. As Shaw-Sutton continues to champion these art forms, her work underscores the enduring importance and relevance of handcrafts in our society.
The Museum hosted interactive workshops, provided visitors with hands-on experience and the opportunity to learn directly from the artists. This immersive experience was designed to foster a deeper appreciation for the meticulous craftsmanship and creativity involved in fiber arts. It was a lively and educational event, and introduced a fresh wave of creativity to Ojai.” This latter text is copied (with the tense adjusted) from a lovely interview with Carol conducted by Ojai local Jules Weissman at this link >>.
Regeneration 2025
This quilt is inspired by an Alabama Pine Burr quilt. It is composed of all recycled cotton sheeting and scraps. Some are naturally dyed.Machine sewn.
The pine cone represents regeneration and transformation through fire. I started this piece as the Los Angeles fires raged. It seemed fitting for this show in Ojai to acknowledge the importance of Pine Mountain and its vulnerability to fire.
The "mandalas" can also be interpreted] as images of "the vortex", which is created by the magnetic pull of the Topa Topa Mountains. The Chumash word Ojai means nest, so each kaleidoscopic mandala conjures the sense of a nest or lens, perhaps to look at the time we are in, to imagine, to dream and to heal.
