a wee biography

I am fascinated by the art of felting. Meditatively pulling wisps of soft fibre and gently laying them in layers, showering water like dewdrops on a cloud of wool tempting my fingers to sink in.  Gliding over a thin layer of soap, my hands gently coax the fibres into a dance of twists and turns until they are wrapped up tightly in each other’s arms. From the very first time I created a piece of felt, my heart was swept up into that dance. It is so simple, with just wool, water and a bit of soap I am both connected to an ancient technique, held thoughtfully in the present by the tactile process and simultaneously captivated by a vision of endless possibilities of where the wool could take me. 

And then there is my love of hats. A hat transforms and enhances the wearer. It is a sculpture that expresses ones personality like a lighthouse beacon to all that pass by. I am delighted to create art that can accompany a person wherever they go, and, as opposed to other articles of clothing, a hat offers me such freedom of design, with the only necessity that it sit atop the head. The partnership of felt and hat, to me, is perfection. When felted, wool is both strong, light, and it has a buoyancy that almost defies gravity - qualities which allow me to explore sculptural form, while keeping it comfortable to wear. 

My creations are often inspired by nature and folklore. Like many, I find myself overwhelmed by thrall of my culture, one that emphasizes speed, accumulation, power and outward appearances.  My work reminds me to slow down, observe all the life that is in and around me and enter into a rhythm of the earth instead of my society. This rhythm, to me, embraces creativity, light and life as well as age, darkness and decay - one giving rise to the other in an endless dance. And in all of those times, the light and dark, our ancestors have past down stories to ground and embrace us, to give us a sense of belonging while expanding our understanding of the seen and unseen world. What I love about these stories is that they are not stagnant, they are fibres held in our hands to be re-woven and passed on, enabling our children to cope with our ever-changing circumstances. My hope is that I can use my work to weave a tale of wonder and delight. That when a hat is worn and observed, both participants are invited to sink into the present moment, reminded to witness the flowers, falling leaves and changing of seasons, and rediscover the child stored deeply within them. When the rush of life dissolves, our eyes can see past the veil of distraction into a miraculous world that is all around us, waiting to reveal it’s mysteries and share it’s stories.       

xoxo

rena