09/26/2024
M. Lee Woodfin
5 Claws Wisdom Nest - 2024
6x7x18
‘Hand wrapped cording, eco-dyed fabric, beach found grasses, tree bark, fur, dried kelp, a piece of an early 1900s shoe, and 5 inherited black bear claws. I’ve been exploring my Native Creek-Muskogee heritage and have recently been drawn to making ‘nests’ that might signify a certain sense of power.
The bear is considered a sacred and spiritual animal by Native Americans, who believe the bear has a profound connection to the physical and spiritual world and that its claw symbolizes this connection. The bear claw is used as a token of strength, wisdom, courage, and protection.’
Wishing Nest - 2024
12x9x13
‘Woven basketry; silk paper yarn and raffia wrapped cording; beach found wood, grasses, kelp, animal fur, and bone. My somewhat large collection of bones, beach grasses, and found natural materials made me want to build a form that was organic without following traditional basket techniques. I had a desire to make the bones take on a positive energy.’
M. Lee Woodfin—‘Fiber art is my aesthetic life canvas. I create the basic structure of a piece to form a background, with the idea of bringing broader meaning and a visual dynamic to my original concept by adding texture, objects, and dimension. To create this mind landscape, I use weaving, hand dyeing, and other multifaceted, mixed-media fiber techniques, often including upcycled and recycled materials, vintage yarns, and found objects.
I try to embrace the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi in the work while knowing the piece will drive itself, ‘speaking’ to me about approach and use of material. The process is an important journey for me—one of letting go, allowing the supposed ‘control’ of expression to emerge.
My intent is to create layers of meaning for myself as it relates to my own personal life experience and to find a deeper sense of changing time, people, and place. I hope to evoke a similar life reflection for the viewer.’
Bravissima, Lee ✨♥️♥️
Join us tomorrow for our closing party and your last chance to see these beauties in person. 5-8pm.