Deidre Adams
Horizon V
24"x24"
© Deidre Adams
A few weeks back I attended the opening of Deidre Adam’s solo show at Sanctuary Decor in Littleton, Colorado. I’ve known Deidre for 7 or 8 years and she is a member of my small critic group Material Evolution.
Deidre has 20 pieces of her newest work on display through December 3rd. If you live in Colorado I highly recommend stopping by to see this show at 5623 So. Prince St. in Historic Downtown Littleton. It’s worth the drive even in today’s snow.
Deidre’s work is a fascinating combination of quilting and painting and mark making. From her website: "Deidre incorporates dyeing, painting, photography, stitching, and collage in her work, and she likes to experiment with new ways of combining process and techniques, from the traditional to the avant-garde."
She includes a wonderful collection of images that inspire her on her website and includes the following statement:
Things in a state of change are my primary source of inspiration. Construction and demolition sites are rich with surfaces and textures, as well as ready-made compositions, waiting to be explored. Old buildings in various stages of decomposition, with peeling paint, layers of faded signage or graffiti, provide endless fascination.
Rusted Surface on Road Construction Vehicle
© Deidre Adams
Much of Deidre’s work has a feeling of vast space and openness, such as Horizon V above. This is in direct contrast to my work, which is often about hiding and the protection of walls and fences. I’ve always struggled with leaving large open spaces in my work, feeling exposed and uncomfortable, but Deidre is a master at capturing the sense of beauty and freedom of such exposure.
All of her work is highly textured with quilting and other techniques and then painted, evoking the surfaces in her photographed images. Her process is unique and I’ve had the pleasure of watching her work in progress over the years. Look for a feature article on Deidre and a bit of how she creates these beautiful pieces in an upcoming issue of Quilting Arts Magazine.
Composition IV
42"x42"
© Deidre Adams
Passages V
42"x42"
© Deidre Adams
All images copyright by Deidre Adams and reproduced here with permission. See more of Deidre’s work in the gallery on her website (hover your mouse on the small thumbnails for a fullview image).
Posted by Lisa in: The Art World
Rex Crockett said,
November 30, 2006 @ 5:38 am
Wow.
Thanks for this, Lisa. Powerful work. I have NEVER seen anthing like this, yet somehow, I recognize everything. Fascinating.
Cynthia said,
November 30, 2006 @ 8:45 am
Now, this is a show that I would love to see! Thanks for the link…Littleton is just a hop, skip and a jump from where I live…I’m going to check out the show. I look forward to seeing her work in person.
Tracy said,
November 30, 2006 @ 10:45 am
It’s probably really self-centered to say they remind me of my own paintings, but, well they do. The first one especially. Thanks for posting them-I think they are beautiful!
See how obnoxious that sounds, now that I have said they look like my own work?
Lisa Call said,
November 30, 2006 @ 11:02 am
Cynthia - I was thinking about you when I suggested everyone go see the show. I think you will love it.
Rex - thanks - her work is amazing - even better in person.
Tracy - actually you two work in a similar way . I know Deidre does many layers of acrylic paint thinned with water, which I believe, is similar to your layers of color glazes. And that distant horizon line is also similar. So - no obnoxious - you both make gorgeous work!
Susie Monday said,
November 30, 2006 @ 2:32 pm
Thanks for sharing this work Lisa, I think it is beautifully conceived and executed — and her website is inspirational. I love the inspiration page and want to do something like that soon — though I fear I could get carried away. Seeing what inspires another artist, and the relationship with her work to the inspirational “reality” out there always makes me want to holler wow. Thanks
Paul Butzi said,
November 30, 2006 @ 2:52 pm
Much of Deidre’s work has a feeling of vast space and openness, such as Horizon V above. This is in direct contrast to my work, which is often about hiding and the protection of walls and fences. I’ve always struggled with leaving large open spaces in my work, feeling exposed and uncomfortable, but Deidre is a master at capturing the sense of beauty and freedom of such exposure.
Well, now. That’s an interesting comment. If you cared to elaborate on that a bit, I’d be eager to read your further thoughts along those lines.
Thanks, Lisa, for introducing me to such great work. It reminds me somewhat of gabbeh rugs, which sometimes depict the landscape with broad expanses of color. Not so much a similar look as much as a similar sense of space.
Lisa Call said,
November 30, 2006 @ 10:51 pm
Susie - yes - her work is very inspirational. As is her gorgeous website. Deidre is a graphic designer for her day job and quilt amazingly talented at that also.
Paul - I’ve talked about that a bit before - see this post and this post from last year. But I think it will also be the topic of an upcoming Art and Perception post also - partly in relationship to your post today and the comments that followed and the comments that followed my last post.
Lori Witzel said,
December 2, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
A very big “thank you” for sharing her work.
One more back atcha — you may or may not her, but I stumbled into her gallery in Flagstaff AZ a few months ago and the colors were so intense and gorgeous I (almost) needed dark sunglasses.
http://www.darcyfalk.com/works_2005-1.html
Lori Witzel said,
December 2, 2006 @ 1:21 pm
Er…I meant to say “you may or may not know her work” — clearly I need more coffee.