My Catacombs series is not yet finished. So far, I’ve made 20 pieces and I still have sketches for more. Every time I think I’m done, I see something, a building perhaps, and that leads me to other permutations of arranged arches.

Many archeological sites have been obliterated as a result of war or the flooding of sensitive areas caused by the building of hydroelectric dams in the constant search to fill the world’s need for energy. Civilizations of the past intertwined their culture and religion, the unexplainable was made to be supernatural.

The arch is a symbol from antiquity that I use in my work to depict this integration of historical icon in modern contexts. The result is art that is archeological in nature, mysterious in design and reverent in interpretation with the illusion of a patina of age.

When I read about the destruction of yet another archeological site, such as the sensitive digs and ruins at Babylon, I feel compelled to make another piece in the series. Considering the state of the world, this series may never be completed.

Lux Center for the Arts
Lincoln, Nebraska
April 4 — 26, 2008

Curated by textile artist, Lisa Call, the Lux Center’s 2008 Quilting Invitational brings together diverse and talented regional and east coat artists. Deidre Adams uses the structure of the quilt to investigate surface and textures through stitched and painted natural landscapes and man made structures. Works by Joanie San Chirico share a similar focus on the environment and artifacts, while employing the use of hand dying processes and stitching on both cloth and paper. A fascination with form and color through the use of painting, printmaking, collage and sewing are displayed in Jeanne Williamson’s construction fence monoprints. Rounding out the bunch are Pam RuBert’s quilts which in their altogether unique way use RuBert’s own cartoon character, PaMdora, to create humorous narrative adventures.