At the End, Weaving, 2019

Pants, Weaving, 2017

 

 

Artist Statement:

Weaving and the fiber arts have shown me a positive, meditative path to self-discovery, creativity and joy. I work at the rigid heddle loom, doing plain weave mostly with my fingers.  I use a mixture of traditional materials such as yarns and non-traditional materials such as wire, deconstructed clothing, natural components and industrial objects to create highly textured pieces that express my intuitions mostly about three disparate topics: personal emotional well-being, identity, and the environment. In a creative field that has traditionally emphasized a highly stylized and predictable form of beauty, my intention as a weaver is to create an unexpected aesthetic through combinations of traditional and unlikely materials. The tactile experience of weaving, as well as the visual, is essential to my efforts. My weavings and wall hangings are often messy and disheveled, reflecting the way I navigate in the world.

 

Susan Ferguson holds two academic degrees in English (B.A. and M.A.). She worked for more than forty years in agriculture, journalism, writing, editing, marketing, and teaching. In southern Arizona, during a hiatus from traditional employment, Susan discovered a passion for weaving. She lives now in Independence, Missouri, where her exploration of and experimentation with weaving, tapestry and fiber art pleasantly consume much of her time. Susan belongs to the Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City, Fiber Guild of Greater Kansas City, Missouri Fiber Artists and American Tapestry Alliance. She is a 2018 ArtsKC Regional Arts Council Inspiration Grant recipient.