Come by and see a very special work of art. Michelle Loughlin created Interference. Based on the size, shape and color patterns in the gulf oil spill, Michelle used Lion Brand yarns to create this piece just for our Studio.
Artist Statement:
Interference, 2010
Interference is a term used to describe the colors created when oil and water mix. Inspired by the BP oil spill clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, Interference is composed of colorful fibrous machine-knitted forms stitched and woven together to reflect recent photo documentation of the spill. First drawing and then knitting water-like forms, I reference both the mixing of oil and water as well as oil- netted shapes that are now seen floating throughout the coastal region. Part of what interested me in the spill documentation is the incredible array of colors that are present in the spill; from the blues, reds, and oranges to the golden sheens. Through fibers, I am capable of blending these oil structures on a macro scale, while maintaining a sense of autonomy on the micro scale where individual stitches, colors, and patterns are easily recognizable. In addition, pantyhose stuffed with hair were hand-stitched into the piece in a technique adopted from grassroots community clean up efforts. The shape of Interference was derived from the original map on the web site : www.ifitwasmyhome.com. The profile of the oil spill is continuously changing and I am interested in documenting the movement of the spill further.
This is a very striking and complex work. I was drawn to the color and confused by the design. I love how the artist statement adds to the narrative of the piece — on its own it’s beauty imbued with sadness, with the story, it’s texture imbued with meaning. Thanks for posting this through the Fiberarts magazine site.