Barbara M. Berk
Petite French Knot, 2019
Phosphor Bronze; Bobbin Lace made by hand
17.5” H x 18.5” W x 4.5” D
Some 15 bronze threads loop from a knotted bundle, forming a swirling shape, which measures 17.5” high by 18.5” wide. The threads loop closely together twice, then fan out in individual layered loops to the left.
Further images
Artist Statement My artwork embodies the interplay of metal with traditional fiber technology and structures. Drawing on the sewing I loved as a girl & the metalsmithing skills I learned...
Artist Statement
My artwork embodies the interplay of metal with traditional fiber technology and structures. Drawing on the sewing I loved as a girl & the metalsmithing skills I learned as an adult, I weave and make bobbin lace by hand with stainless steel and phosphor bronze wire. I then curve, loop, twist, interweave, layer, sew, embroider, filigree, weld and polish my flat “fabric” into 3-dimensional forms. I play with geometry and pattern, density and texture, probing the limits of scale, volume and structural integrity, to create wall-mounted, ceiling-suspended and pedestal-supported sculptures.