About the work:
Growing up in Ohio, the winters were long and grey and I dreamed of vibrant colors to brighten the landscape. I experimented with painting, sculpting, printmaking, drawing, and designing. After discovering weaving, my love of fiber, texture, and color crystallized and I soon immersed myself in weaving as a full time pursuit. Sitting at one of my looms, making a fabric come to life by mingling individual threads is a joyful experience that gives me wonderful satisfaction. For many years my work focused mainly on wearable art. Creating a unique textile for someone to wrap around their body is a way of bringing beauty into daily life. Exploring the effects of color and texture on our emotions is always powerful and inspiring. Fiber reflects the light in various ways which add interest and variety to woven works.
During the last few years, my work expanded to include large scale wall pieces, many of which are color studies. The variety of color interactions, combined with variances in the fibers used allows for endless possibilities still to be explored. Many of my recent pieces are commissions for churches, often to be hung on the wall behind the alter, or used as an alter cloth. It is quite an honor to work these commissions. As I weave the rhythm of the loom makes music within me and my mind soars to imagine what projects I might work on next.
I am grateful every day that I am able to pursue my passion as a full time weaver.
About the artist:
After attending the College of Art and Design at the University of Cincinnati, Deborah’s formal art studies ended, she traveled for while, and eventually earned her degree in Business Management at the University of Redlands. A business career remained her main focus for many years. In 1996 Deborah was introduced to weaving and rediscovered a love of creating art. Since then she has worked full time as a weaver and artist, including teaching fiber arts, creating and selling wearable art, giving lectures, and showing in local, regional, and national exhibits. Her work has been exhibited at the Gerald R. Ford Museum, Ventura County Museum, Riverside Art Museum, La Sierra University, Riverside City College, Central Wyoming College, and Denver Metropolitan State College, as well as many galleries across the country. She has won numerous awards and written articles for national publications. Her work has been commissioned by St. Mary Magdalen church in Camarillo, CA, Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Hamilton Ohio, St. Monica catholic Church in Santa Monica, CA and is in many private collections.
http://www.deborahjarchow.com/
