Our collaborative process...
James and I have been together for over twenty years. While we have remodeled several homes, we never found a visual art project that intrigued and inspired us both—until we began discussing the various creative outlets society explored during the mandatory quarantine period of the COVID pandemic. As we saw family, friends, and neighbors begin to stitch, garden, weave, and cook, we noticed the therapeutic nature of engaging with the natural world. We realized how our two creative mediums, wood and wool, could depict this connection.
Filling the Void sculptural Series
Mending the Soul
Using some of the naturally dyed cheesecloth from the Community Garden 2020 Grant project, I threaded it into the two concave veneer edges. Repeating the cylindrical form of the wood, I secure the various woven cheesecloth threads using couching, a technique I was introduced to through an online slow stitch challenge. The intensional monatone nature of this piece, is to reflect the undefined nature of the known. Contrast is found in the textural juxtaposition between the fiber and the wood while the vivid red stitching is to reflect the life and love that marked each day as we filled our time.
Unearthed
“Unearthed,” part of the Filling the Void series, is a sculpture featuring woolen hands pulling at steam-bent wood veneer pieces that twist and intertwine. Created during the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, this piece explores themes of emotional turmoil, resilience, and the quest for stability.
The hands, sculpted from wool, symbolize the human response to isolation and upheaval—expressing a range of emotions from frustration to determination. The twisting wood veneer represents the complexity and entanglement of our experiences during this challenging period. Together, they illustrate the struggle to maintain balance and find meaning amid chaos, highlighting the resilience and creativity that emerge when we face unprecedented trials.
Finding the Strength Winthin
“Finding the Strength Within,” part of the Filling the Void series, is a sculpture depicting two woolen hands pulling apart layers of veneer wood to reveal a small wire heart nestled within several bent wool layers. Created in response to the emotional processing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this piece explores themes of introspection, resilience, and the search for what truly matters.
The woolen hands symbolize the human effort to peel back the layers of our lives, exposing the core of our values and emotions. The wire heart, delicate yet enduring, represents the essence of what we hold dear, uncovered through the act of introspection. This sculpture reflects the journey many of us undertook during the pandemic—navigating through uncertainty and isolation to discover the fundamental truths and values that define us. “Finding the Strength Within” is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of connection and love.
Interwoven
“Interwoven” is a sculptural work that depicts two woolen hands weaving strips of wood veneer that curve and bend in intricate patterns. Created during the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, this piece explores how engaging in slow, natural crafts helped many individuals stay mentally busy and find solace during a time of global upheaval.
The woolen hands symbolize the human need for connection and creativity, while the interlaced wood veneer strips represent the complex and adaptive nature of our coping mechanisms. “Interwoven” illustrates the therapeutic power of hands-on, mindful activities and the beauty that emerges from dedicating time to create something meaningful. This sculpture is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the profound impact of craft as a means of navigating through challenging times.
New Growth
“New Growth,” part of the Filling the Void: Keeping Our Hands Busy and Our Minds Occupied series, was created with funding from the NYFA and NYSCA DEC Personal Artist Grant. This piece features a woolen hand engaging with a two-leaf bud made from silk, wool, and wire, emerging from a walnut wood burl.
“New Growth” captures the philosophical longing to connect with activities that ground us, offering a sense of preservation and survival through simplicity. The woolen hand symbolizes the human need to reconnect with nature and find solace in the act of nurturing growth. The delicate bud, nurtured by the hand, represents hope and the desire for new beginnings amidst uncertainty. This sculpture reflects the therapeutic power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit in seeking comfort and stability during challenging times.
“The juxtaposed materials, that maker action depicted. It feels like the soft hands of humans forging the hard elements of our world into function.”
Tasty Breakfast
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Birthdays & Events
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Fresh Coffee
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Our Sweets Collection
The best way to experience our wide collection of sweets is to visit the store. Follow the aromas and choose the most enticing sweets to satisfy your palate.
Welcome to Filling The Void
Filling the Void
Filling the void is a representation of how we kept our hands busy and our minds occupied during the Covid-19 Pandemic. This is a collaborative project between my husband and I using both wood and wool to show these activities.
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