Artist’s Statement
Butterfly Sail is a stitched monotype that contains an abstracted wing of a butterfly. Back and forth between drawing and working with stencils, I stitch and draw marks with the sewing machine to create an imaginary environment. I reflect on the swirls in the patterns within the water of Clearwater Lake. I enjoy experimenting with color, layers, and movement. Originally a weaver, from 1979 to 1992, I made handwoven and hand-dyed textile wall pieces, which continue to influence my prints.
It was late August. I stood a few inches away while I took a short video capturing monarch butterflies in the shrubbery. I focused on two monarch butterflies. As of summer 2022, monarchs are on the endangered list. The butterflies looked like they were enjoying themselves in the milkweed plants and flying around chasing one another. I had a chance to see them up close and I was inspired by examining different clips from the video. By drawing with an Exacto blade and ink, I got to create stencils and study various wing patterns and positions.
Monarchs are a symbol of our fragile, balanced/out-of-balance environment. This work was made on thin Asian paper and printed on an etching press with hand-cut stencils placed on an inked plexiglass plate. Later, I drew and painted onto paper that was cut, applied, and integrated into the composition. This piece was experimental and exciting as it evolved to a finish.