Artist Interview 99: Barbara J. Schneider
Woodstock, Illinois, USA
The concept of Japanese Wabi-Sabi strongly influences Barbara’s work. Reflection continues to be a theme in her work. She employs surface design techniques like dyeing, painting and mono-printing onto hand-dyed or commercial fabrics. Barbara likes to work in series, each time she does another piece it is stronger. She looks at the play of light upon surfaces, shaping the pieces and introducing a new element of light and shadow interacting with undulating surfaces.
Tell us about your work?
My on-going interest in the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi, finding beauty in things that are imperfect, impermanent and incomplete is at the core of all of my artwork. I like to try and capture the essence of images made of light and movement, images that are infinitely variable. What does the eye see? What does the camera see? What does the mind see? My Reflections series explores the concept of reflection and how to capture the essence of images that are not physically there, images made of light and movement, images that change.
My Leaves Series is an exploration and interpretation of natural images by enlarging and reshaping them. I collect leaves, pods, flowers, grasses and look closely at their structure and shape. In particular, I like to collect these natural objects at the end of summer when they have begun to wither and fragment. Looking at them closely and then enlarging them, allows me to see them as sculptural objects. I look at the play of light upon surfaces and shaping the pieces introduces a new element – light and shadow interacting with the undulating surfaces.
The new Line Dance: Tree Ring Patterns series is an extension of this exploration of natural objects. Looking at the patterns in the tree rings and then the additional patterns created by overlapping and fragmenting the imagery, allows me to look at them in new ways.
Reflection continues to be my theme. It is what I do throughout my work process, as well as what I hope viewers do as they look at the completed work.
Previous World of Threads Exhibitions
Barbara Schneider exhibited in Festival 2014 in the Solo Shows.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Primarily nature. I take a lot of photographs of things I observe and they become the starting point for all my work. I especially like to photograph things that are ephemeral (moving water for example) and things that are made of light and shadow, or the interplay of colours and shapes.
What other mediums do you work in, and how does this inform your fiber work?
Handmade paper, artist's books and printmaking. The techniques from those areas have an impact on how I think about creating my work and also the format at times. Photography is also most important to my work, not as a finished product, but as a source and a vehicle for observation.
Working in which media comes easier for you?
Surface design techniques like dyeing, painting, monoprinting, etc.
What specific contemporary artists have influenced your work?
Andy Goldsworthy – environmental artist from England. I am fascinated with his approach to creating art in the environment. He goes out each day and creates art from what he finds in nature. He then photographs it and then the created piece is gradually absorbed back into the environment. For example, he might create a piece out of sticks and twigs and then float it into the river. It will gradually unravel and float away. Or he creates a piece out of icicles and snow that will melt away. It is an extension of my interest in Wabi-sabi.
Richard Long – environmental artist from England, similar to Andy Goldsworthy. I have created some specific pieces of art cloth that are based on his Long Walk work. The idea of using a repetitive, singular motion (like walking) to create art on the land is something that I have tried to interpret in a series of monoprints.
Dorothy Caldwell – Canadian fibre artist. I am influenced by Dorothy's approach to mark making and stitch and her interpretation of nature into abstract large-scale fabric artwork.
When did you know that you would make a career in artistic creation?
In high school. I went on to get a Bachelor of Science degree in Visual Design and worked in the design profession and publishing for many years. I have always had to "make" things
Working in series is also important to development of a voice. Each time you do another piece it is stronger.
Please explain how you developed your own style.
It has been a gradual process. Once I learned the basic techniques I wanted to make things of my own design. Also, I took a lot of workshops with many well-known teachers and that helped me to define which techniques I was attracted to and which I was not. I worked through Jane Dunnewold's Complex Cloth correspondence course and then completed the 2.5-year Mastery program in surface design. That concentration on creating your own personal voice was very instrumental in my development. Working in series is also important to development of a voice. Each time you do another piece it is stronger.
How does your early work differ from what you're doing now?
My current work is more disciplined and I specifically look to create new work that falls into one of my series. I build new work based on what I have learned from previous work and extend ideas. I try hard not to get off into the weeds with new ideas (very hard) that do not extend the bodies of work. I feel that this helps me to go deeper and do better work.
I wish we could just accept that all the media are just different vehicles for expression.
What role do you think fibre art plays in contemporary art?
I think that fibre art is being recognized more and more in contemporary art. I think it helps to extend people's ideas and blurs the line between various media. I have a hard time with artificial demarcations between various genres. I wish we could just accept that all the media are just different vehicles for expression.
I want people to see the beauty in these discards.
Through your art, are you attempting to evoke particular feelings in your audience?
I try to get viewers to be more observant of the environment around them and to appreciate the beauty in things that they normally would not pay much attention to. The Leaves Series is an example of that approach. I want people to see the beauty in these discards.
What project has given you the most satisfaction and why?
The Leaves Series has been very satisfying because it took a long time for me to figure out how it might develop as a dimensional series and then how to make it work. That lead to making a DVD for Interweave Press about my process, demonstrating the process on a couple of television programs, and writing some articles which means I am a published author, which feels great.
When are you more productive? I
In the morning and early afternoon. I save more rote tasks for later in the day.
Tell us about your studio and how you work:
I have been in my current studio space for about one year. Before that I used space in my home. My current studio is at The Starline Gallery in Harvard, IL, in an old industrial building that is slowly being renovated as a gallery, studio and event space. It is great to be in a space with other artists, with exhibits and events going on regularly. My space is pretty big with two walls for exhibiting work, two long tables for surface design, a sewing area, a computer area, storage etc. I have space to offer workshops and classes.
I tend to move through several tasks each day, it might be sewing for awhile, preparing fabric for the printer, getting fabric ready to dye, doing a variety of things. I find that I am less tired and make better decisions on my work if I move between things, rather than staying with one task too long. I always have a list going of things that need to be done – a much longer list then I want!
What interests you about the World of Threads festival?
The variety of wonderful art that I have seen on the website. The range and the caliber of the art and that it is very different from what I see in the USA. I want to come to the next World of Threads in 2014!
Is there something else you would like us to know about you or your work, which we have not covered?
- I will be featured in three segments on PBS Quilting Art TV program this fall. It is series 1200 and I will be in segments 1211, 1212, and 1213.
- Linden Leaf Rag will be shown in the Nature as Craft exhibit at the Wayne Art Center in December 2013.
- I will have a solo show in January, 2014 at the Starline gallery and Studios in Harvard, IL.
- Reflections, var. 18 Venice is currently showing at the National Quilt Museum as part of the SAQA Seasonal Palette exhibit.
- Forest Floor, var. 2 is currently showing as part of the Quilt National 2-13 exhibit at Aronson Gallery at St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO,
- I am the Illinois representative for the Studio Art Quilters Association.
- I am an avid gardener and long distance hiker.
- I am learning to fly a small plane.
