Kathryn Clark is a fiber artist from San Francisco, CA. I met her online, in 2010, and we have been digital friends ever since. We did a fun project together last summer, after which she took off doing very interesting, intelligent and politically inspired things with textile. Her recent series of pretty abstract quilts deals with the current wave of foreclosures – Americans who are evicted from their homes because they can’t pay their mortgages anymore. Kathryn worked as an urban planner before.
How would you describe the work you do?
I make conceptual fiber art. My work differs from most fiber art in that my work is not so much process based as other fiber art. My work is currently driven by political concepts.
Kathryn Clark, foreclosure series
Kathryn Clark, foreclosure series, detail
What does your average work day look like?
During the week, I head right into the studio every day after dropping my daughter off at school, around 9 AM. I’m either assembling or sewing pieces all day with a short break for lunch. My studio time ends around 2:30 when I pick up my daughter. Sometimes, I’ll take my work upstairs into my main living area to work in the evenings if I’m on a deadline or just can’t stop.
What do you like best about it?
I love the solitude and the structured time I have to my days. And when I achieve ‘flow’ in my work, it’s just perfection to me.
Where did you learn for it?
Regarding fiber, I’m completely self taught. My mother was a fiber artist but died before I could even think to ask her about what she did and learn from her. But I must have absorbed something from her since I work in such a similar medium. I studied traditional painting and drawing techniques at various state schools for about five years before switching my major to interior architecture. Urban planning was also self taught on the job. I think I learn best on my own terms.
Can we see your studio?
How about a link to my studio pictures. It’s hard to photograph as even though the room is south facing, it’s still quite dark. This is an older picture when I was still painting but the setup is the same, just the materials have changed.
Kathryn Clark, studio wall
Where do you find inspiration?
In terms of technique, other contemporary artists inspire me as well as some of the great artists like Eva Hesse and Louise Bourgeois, truly creative women. I love discovering new artists to share on my blog, I always learn something from them. Regarding content, I am inspired by things that I’m passionate about and want to call attention to. Right now, it’s global land grabbing, small scale farming and the dying textile mill industry in the US.
Kathryn Clark, Idiom series
Be sure to check out Kathryn’s blog and website.
Tags: fiber artist, foreclosure, kathryn clark, textile, urban planner
Love!
Gorgeous post!
Wow, Kitty, such a wonderful post! The best ever done on my work! Thank you!
i LOVE kathryn’s work . . . it moves my soul.
I’ve been fortunate to see textile art and it can be amazing. It is difficult to bring textures to life but I think you’ve done an excellent job capturing it with photography. Thanks for sharing.