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Using wire, The 4 Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, Water explores color, shape, movement, and light. The fan reed produces Ondulé textures depicting aerial views of land, mountain ranges, and fields; the motion of air; the menace of fire; and the rhythm of waves. Colors change and curves widen and narrow across these elements. Light is alternately reflected and absorbed. The 4 Elements are conjoined in one frame displaying their interconnection as essential for life.
Exploring the limits of wire and a fan reed keeps me forever challenged with the unforgiving nature of wire, combined with limited colors; and to my knowledge, no program (like Fiberworks), to simulate and depict ideas in advance. In this current work, each of the Elements needed differentiation. What color is the wind? I sampled many combinations and ended up using silver pearl, army green, silver and lavender. Wire has memory, and is particularly unforgiving when a mistake is made. As the warp advanced, and was stressed, there were 14 broken wire warp threads, but I felt it was part of the interconnectedness of each Element in life to keep them tied together. Off loom sculpting tested my resolve, as there were limits to the ability of sculpting one section without disturbing the integrity of the next one. Innovation continues and gratification grows as I push the limits of materials, structure, color and technique, while trying to capture emotional feelings with woven wire.
Techniques:
Handwoven, weft-faced Twill structure, using 24 gauge wire in both the warp and the weft. Ondulé effects through the use of a fan reed. Off loom sculpting. Eighteen different wire colors were used to depict the Elements. Black wire was used in the warp.
Dimensions:
17 1/2″ Height x 26 1/4″ Width x 2 1/4″ Depth
Materials:
24 gauge non-tarnish wire in both warp and weft. Silk mat. Wooden Frame.
Loom:
Herald, 4 shaft floor loom modified to include a fan reed.
Darolyn Bennett
Since 2012, Darilyn has developed her skills through weaving classes in structure, color, and creativity. In 2014 she changed her medium to wire, challenging the use of traditional materials and bringing a new dimension to her creations. She has honed her skills by improvising and adapting to accommodate this unlikely weaving material. Darilyn purchased a fan reed in 2018, despite warnings that wire would ruin the reed! To accommodate this reed, she has redesigned her loom and tools. She has exhibited her award-winning wire weavings in both the United States and Canada. Darilyn continues to expand the limits of weaving as she creates sculptured wire works with iridescence and optical effects.
