ARTIST STATEMENT

As a multidisciplinary artist, my work evolves from a daily practice of meditative making, such as hand-stitching and drawing, as a means of self-care and refuge from an increasingly digital time. Recurring themes include place, home, nature, and impermanence. In reference to quilts as “women’s work”, this new series questions the value we place on objects both in fine art and domestic spaces.

The  quilted works were created using naturally dyed cotton. Many of my dye materials come from a mix of locally foraged plants and kitchen scraps. Subtle aberrations appear on the fabric, creating a visual texture that is evidence of the plant matter and place from which the color came. Each hue is coaxed from various plants that have evolved over centuries, adapting to their surroundings or the preferences of humans. They tell a story of growth, decay, and resilience. Some colors are more lightfast than others, a result of ongoing experiments. The fleeting color echoes the impermanence of all things and the reverence for each day because of it.

The work pulls viewers in to observe shifting colors, the saturation of pigment, and delicate hand stitching. With further distance, the work reveals inconsistent patterns and mismatched corners, quiet cues to remind us of the imperfections that are a result of the handmade. The choice to quilt with naturally dyed fabric is to challenge our consumer culture and the impact it has had on our planet. The everyday objects we interact with are often devoid of the materials and methods that they come from. Quilting is a slow craft imbued with story and place. Natural dyeing allows for an intimate connection with my local surroundings, observing the seasonal shifts by way of plants. These labors of love are humble reminders of a knowledge passed down through generations & the creative impulse to imbue functional objects with meaning. This impulse is in celebration of our short time together and the stories we may share.

BIO

Katie North (b. 1987, Philadelphia, PA) is a multidisciplinary artist who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. North graduated with a BA from Portland State University in 2011 and MFA from Temple University in 2016. Her works have been exhibited at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff, AZ, Gretchen Schuette Gallery in Salem, OR, Mighty Tieton in Tieton, WA, Betty Feves Memorial Gallery in Pendleton, OR and Temple Contemporary in Philadelphia, PA.

CONTACT

katenorthmakes[at]gmail[dot]com