Dark Watercolors & Weavings, 2012

The works from my recent series, Dark Watercolors & Weavings, mark a radical shift in my practice. Instead of working from images of disaster as a starting point, or re-documenting sites where disasters have occurred, as I have done in my previous work, I have dispensed with images altogether. The work is characterized by an intense attention to detail and is built with elaborate processes of layering, marking, stitching, and weaving, which provides me the space to consider and reflect. These performative, time consuming activities are the locus for my own subjectivity and desire. Dark Watercolors & Weavings do not rely on images, rather they allude to the blind spots and limitations of representation. Their nuances are not always seen at first glance--mainly due to their shadowy quality--and their rich surface detail demands a second look. Hand stitched lines catch the light from one vantage point, yet disappear from another, and greys and blacks are made from layers of bright color giving them a depth that can only be seen under certain lighting conditions.

In the studio, 2012

In the studio, 2012

In the studio, 2012

In the studio, 2012 - in progress
photo taken by K. Baum

Dark Watercolor 004, 2012 - in progress
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 43 x 43 inches

Weaving 001, 2012 - in progress

Dark Watercolor 001, 2011
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 43 x 43 inches

Dark Watercolor 001 (detail), 2011
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 43 x 43 inches

Dark Watercolor 002, 2011
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 44 x 44 inches

Dark Watercolor 002 (detail), 2011
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 44 x 44 inches

Dark Watercolor 003, 2011
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 42 x 42 inches

Dark Watercolor 003 (detail), 2011
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 42 x 42 inches

Dark Watercolor 004, 2012 - in progress
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 40 x 40 inches

Dark Watercolor 004 (detail), 2012 - in progress
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 40 x 40 inches

Dark Watercolor 005, 2012 - in progress
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 17.25 x 17.25 inches

Dark Watercolor 005 (detail), 2012 - in progress
Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 17.25 x 17.25 inches