ARTIST STATEMENT:
I am inspired by plant morphology viewed from a scientific perspective, particularly to access deep underlying patterns. In the Fall of 2024, the okra I had planted grew well into November, and the cold temperature highlighted the flower bud's unfolding in a dramatic manner. I was mesmerized by the specific overlap of the petals, their gradual pink color, and striking maroon veining. I researched aestivation, or arrangement of petals within a flower bud. This, together with the closely related ptyxis, or leaf folding, has become one of the enduring influences on my fiber art.

TECHNIQUE:
The only way the five-petal arrangement of imbrication could be accomplished was by creating five petals and rolling them in a specific arrangement, and covering with a calyx. Each of the 5 petals was woven separately using pulled warp techniques for the ruffles, woven/integrated veining, and shaped tapestry techniques. They were then given a wash of pink color by iterative dip dyeing. They were arranged in a glass jar as a support structure, and this jar was wrapped in a deep red woven calyx. Together, these were six different pieces of tapestry layered and rolled together.

MATERIALS:
Hand-dyed fundamental cotton, Procion, natural yarn, glass jar.

PHOTO CREDIT:
Artist