lynn bennett-carpenter at matéria cass corridor

Handwoven Drawings

“Bennett-Carpenter’s Handwoven Drawings are created through an innovative method the artist has developed that unifies drawing and weaving. In these works, she draws on the surface of soft wood, cuts the wood into thin strips, and then weaves the painted wooden slats back together on a floor loom. A new, integrated composition emerges.

Bennett-Carpenter’s compositions function as Rorschach-esque paracosms referencing disintegration, abandonment, restoration, and organic growth. Unlike an abstract Rorschach ink blot, these images are drawn from specific trees that can be located on a map.

For the artist, trees are true to their time and place, have a long history, and are powerful players in people’s physical and psychological survival. Her focus on the deep significance of trees and direct connection to human wellbeing echoes in a particularly relevant way in our present planetary predicament.”

Janus handwoven drawing on basswood with acrylic, ink and 24K gold, cotton and iridescent thread 66x48

Bennett-Carpenter’s shimmering tapestries present tranquil settings that prompt meditation. Janus draws the viewer in through expertly executed perspective in the floor tiles and gold-leafed arches—although the water feature is a little wonky, it lends to imagination. Set simultaneously for spring and fall, the tree’s crimson trunk breaks the softer tonalities.

Sunland Baobab handwoven drawing, sculpture on basswood with acrylic and ink, sulky and metallic thread 18x4

Irrespective of size, Sunland Baobab captures the viewer as it curls and bends concurrently revealing and concealing its secrets. The drawing may be manipulated to playfully alter what’s seen and unseen.

Manitou handwoven drawing, sculpture on basswood with acrylic, ink, colored pencil and drawn paper cutout. Cotton and metallic thread 18x7

Manitou lays out a complete story in miniature. Detail is attended including a figure that activates the scene. A splash of red and coral generate some tension while the geometric conclusion affords a visual anchor.

Venus handwoven drawing on basswood with acrylic, ink and 24K gold. Cotton and iridescent thread 66x48

Once a painting is completed, Bennett-Carpenter carefully cuts the thin wood into wavy strips that when woven back together supplement dimension with gentle movement. The tight threads add a textural component while serving to maintain construction. Placed directly center, Venus’ glittering sentinel offers balance and stability.

Trees are gentle giants that provide oxygen, shade and shelter to all of this planet’s inhabitants. Their roots plunge into the depths of the soil rendering them strong and resilient in the face of climate change’s accelerating severity. They represent life cycles going dormant in Winter then erupt back to life in the Spring only to glow with vibrant colors as they go quiet again in the Fall. Lynn Bennett-Carpenter pays reverent homage to our earthly companions on whom we rely so heavily yet frequently neglect to return their generosity.

Video Interview with Lynn Bennett-Carpenter

The artist was fortuitously present when I dropped in to review this show and obliged us with some insight into her process.