i first discovered erica green’s work at her “passages” show at the AKA gallery in boulder last year. the viewer was invited to walk between the “walls” of knotted fibers green created that changed from portions so thick with yarn you could not see through them to sparser lengths that allowed you to peek into the next turn. it was an interactive installation meant to engage the viewer both in traveling along the maze-like route and by contributing knots or braids or tears in the fibers at the end of the journey, thereby participating in the art piece and sharing in a collective experience.
(“passages” photo: wes magyar )
“passages” was constructed from neutral toned fibers that varied in size from thin threads to chunky, substantial yarn. the fibers were knotted and layered and tangled together creating a dense, textured, intricate piece endowed with dark shadows and depth and range, despite being all one color. the strands were so soft and tactile, it was a joy to manipulate them at the end of the piece.
(the unknotted fibers at the end of “passages” photo: wes magyar)
erica green received her B.F.A. in ceramic art from the university of nebraska and came to colorado for a post-baccalaureate, also in ceramic art. she was drawn to the earthiness and density of the clay, but found herself frequently adding fibers and textiles to her fired pieces. when she faced an extended recovery from a foot surgery, she gathered a mound of yarn and took it to bed with her to give her hands something to do while resting. she found herself tying the strands together in a “mending” and “repairing” process. thus began erica green’s work in the fiber medium.
green knots and connects the fibers and threads together in a repetitive, meditative process that gradually becomes a visual accumulation and record of the time it takes to heal. each knot begins as a distinctive moment and eventually blends into the greater experience, impossible to distinguish. as such, her work represents the intricacies of time and healing. green’s fiber art feels especially relevant now as we are all coping with the devastating and far reaching effects of the corona virus… time seems suspended as we wait out the quarantine and work at rebuilding our lives in this new paradigm.
green approaches each installation by assessing the space and thinking about how her fibers can both alter and enhance it. her “drifting” piece for the ReCreative show in denver featured knotted fibers hanging down from a stairwell. as viewers climbed and descended the stairs the strings undulated in rhythm with their footsteps and they fleetingly influenced the piece.
(“drifting” photo: wes magyar)
green’s work is equally compelling and beautiful in residential spaces. she created a stunning wall piece for my clients that also incorporated colored thread and thick felt bands tied onto the ends of the knotted yarn. green’s work grounds the space with warmth, texture and calm while also infusing it with dynamism.
(residential photos: HBK photography)
(green’s wall piece adds warmth and dimension to this living space)
(the layers of fibers create shadows and range of tone)
(tiny aqua threads and felt bands were included in this piece)
follow erica green on instagram: ericagreenstudio to keep up with her gorgeous work or visit her studio at the boulder creative collective where she is an artist in residence.
(erica green; photo: chloe besson)
green is currently working on an outdoor piece for the breckcreate show that will hopefully be installed this summer. she is designing a knotted textile chandelier to be hung in the woods, merging indoors with outdoors.
to read about other textile artists click here