Coalescent Meditation
Textile artist Laura Bowman’s knotted sculptures come together in a slow, deliberate process that yields movement in color, line, and three dimensional space.
ON VIEW on October 7th, 2021
6:00pm ET Artist Talk on Instagram LIVE
6:30pm ET Opening on Facebook LIVE
IN-PERSON OPENING on October 8th, 2021, 6-8pm
Private address will be released the day before the event to those who RSVP.
PURCHASE WINDOW 10/7 - 10/14
The gallery will be open by appointment during the purchase window.
Local food feature:
Paellas Trinidad
Johnson City, TN
photos & bio courtesy of Paellas Trinidad—
“Trinidad Vicente began learning the art of the perfect paella from her mother while growing up in Valencia, where the dish is a Sunday family tradition.
She would assist her mom by slicing the red peppers, cutting the green beans, and tossing in the paprika and saffron along with the olive oil and salt. Her mother would guide her by giving her advice such as to not stir the paella too much as to ruin the texture. It is this same care and attention to detail that Trinidad employs with her paellas today.
After moving from Spain to Tennessee with her family eight years ago, Trinidad carried this culinary tradition over to her new home and began cooking for friends and family every Sunday. One day, a neighbor asked if she would cook a paella for her group of twelve people. Word soon spread of her product and the business of Paellas Trinidad was born.
In Trinidad's eyes, part of the magic of the paella is how it brings people together. She believes paella should be enjoyed with close friends, family, and a good bottle of wine.”
For menu and more information, visit paellastrinidad.com.
Coalescent Meditation
knotted sculptural textiles by Laura Bowman
exhibition view & details
ARTIST STATEMENT
My current body of work is a study in tension; a visual expression of the internal chaos of anxiety that appears controlled and harmonious on the surface. It represents the emotional labor of maintaining that appearance while dealing with feelings of displacement and disquietude, and the struggle to organize feelings of chaos and separateness into order and belonging. While the knotting process is slow and intense, the use of soft materials and soothing designs to express the duality of this inner and outer dialogue is meditation as well as physical creation and release.
To create these intricate sculptures, I use simple macrame knots to form and manipulate a complex design. Allowing the process to dictate the flow, while also making specific decisions along the way, I guide the piece towards a visually stimulating conclusion of color, texture, and movement that pushes simple pieces of string and yarn into three-dimensionality.
—Laura Bowman
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Laura Bowman is a self-taught fiber artist living in East Tennessee. She creates knotted sculptural tapestries by combining her unique adaptation of an old macramé technique with a modern textile aesthetic using wool, cotton, and acrylic fibers. Her work is personally meditative and she hopes that viewers will spend time getting lost in the intricacies, chaotic energy, and design.
