Deborah Yaffe

Opens Sat. June 28, 2:00 p.m.
Receptions Friday July 4 & Aug 1, 7-10:00 p.m.
Closes August 9, 5:00 p.m.

CYCLES IN NATURE

Yaffe is constantly inspired by nature. "To watch green shoots emerge from a cold dry winter or a plant grow so abundant that it covers a building with vines" can be seen in the texture and form of her work. Equally represented is another compelling aspect of nature: The way organic matter decays and moves back to the earth. This play of life and death is present throughout the range of Yaffe's work, from twisted branches, fiber, and discarded clothing, which have been cut, sewn, or woven; to her revelations in hanging forms and even in her paintings. Each work reveals itself as something between plant and animal and has a personal relationship to nature and a life all it’s own.

"Inspired by the natural world, I use materials found and gathered around my home; branches from the garden, recycled clothes, leftover coffee from the kitchen. These materials form the basis for my sculptures and textiles and speak about home, closeness, and the connection between the body and nature. I am reminded of impermanence when putting a piece together. In nature things come together and they also fall apart.

By working with these materials, I form a relationship with the places they come from--the memories a piece of fabric may hold, the sense of place branches or wood contain. Finding value or worth in the discarded, is a way of honoring the resources around me." --Deborah Yaffe