Carlie Jo Antes

[BFA] Ceramics

Remnants

In conceiving of Remnants, I identify techniques, materials, and patterns common to traditional craft practices, specifically in relation to textiles. Stitching, weaving and the use of grids and other invented systems are all methods that I employ. String, straight pins, beads, and traditional drawing materials are used in conjunction with repeated forms—resulting in spatial drawings. While string and pins are chosen for their relationship to textiles, they further serve to develop the drawing through the use of added dimension and cast shadows. Together, these craft materials are assembled, layered, and woven, while giving special consideration to the use of line and form often found in various textile practices.

Growing up, my grandmother would make elaborate textiles by weaving seed beads together and later stitching them onto fabric. She was known to say, “Every mistake wards off an evil spirit.” This sentiment often leads me to leave finished pieces deliberately open-ended. Therefore, what could be interpreted as a mistake or incomplete is an intentional decision that acts as an invitation for the viewer to enter.

I create with an intrinsic need to utilize a set of self-imposed rules that direct the placement of line, color, form, and material. Yet intuition allows me to break these rules, keeping the work from becoming overly literal in its interpretation. Therefore, I create knowing that the final piece will result in an exploration of the system that has been predetermined—yet not knowing how the installation will manifest until it has been completed.