2Dye4s is a group of artist comprising of Vali Groening, Ellen Meents, Carla Osterby, Sonya Smith-Pratt, and Diane Weeden.
VALI GROENING:
When I look out at God’s awe inspiring enchanting creation, it takes my breath away. From the tiniest detail in a flower, to the magnificence of the mountains and the sea. I’m thankful that we are all given the opportunity to be creative in so many areas of our lives; our families, cuisine, interior design, and landscaping. In my textile work, I love the richness of combining old, new, and various complementary textures. These are my inspirations, and what I wish to convey. Maya Angelou said, “Life is pure adventure and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.”
ELLEN MEENTS:
The exploration of color and texture on fabric or paper leads me on a journey that never fails to spark my interest and begs the question: “What if?”
Of course, this leads me to ask “Now what?” What can I do with these explorations? How can I use them in a manner that best suits the materials used? How can I combine them with stitch or perhaps glue into a finished piece that invites the viewer to come in for a closer look and wonder “How did she do that?”
The combination of paper and fabric can lend itself to an art quilt or sometimes a painted collage. My joy is in the journey, not the destination.
CARLA OSTERBY:
Felt is magical. I am amazed how wool can be transformed through various means into so many functional and artistic forms. Felting methods dating to 6500 BC continue to be some of the same techniques used today.
Needle, wet, and numo felting are some techniques I use to shape and sculpt wool. I often incorporate natural elements such as sticks, leaves, rocks and other found items in my art. I up-cycle vintage wool sweaters when creating my felted birds.
I find myself wanting to create art that speaks to me and to the world. Wool is the material that allows me to convey my ideas and thoughts.
I struggle with translating some concepts into form. These artistic struggles end up in as “works in progress” until the artistic elements fall into place and magic happens.
Being part of the art group, 2 Dye4s inspires me to continue creating.
SONYA SMITH-PRATT:
My sewing machine and I are good buddies. I find layering, twisting, scrunching, melting, dyeing, and otherwise torturing materials a satisfying pursuit. I often use stylized flowers and landscapes as subject matter when I explore the dimensional qualities of fabric. When I encounter new ways of using ‘found’ objects, I behave just like my 2Dye4 sisters; my eyebrows raise, my pulse quickens, and I just have to explore the possibilities. So much to do, so little time.
DIANE WEEDEN:
I see myself as one in a long line of women who made textiles, both functional and decorative. I try to include hand work—stitching, beading, and embroidery--in my pieces to honor those women. After being a traditional quilter for 20 years, I began making art quilts. For the past 15 years, I have tried a myriad of styles and techniques—all driving me to find my voice.
Currently, I am using less machine stitching and more hand stitching in all phases of construction. I want the viewer to see my hand and do not strive for tiny or perfect stitching. I use natural fibers in my work and include both commercial and hand dyed fabrics to fulfill my design concepts.
I owe a debt of thanks to fiber artists such as Faith Ringgold, Sue Stone, and Liz Kettle whose use of color and commitment to telling stories through cloth have inspired me. I also admire artists such as Klee and Hundertwasser for using symbols and design to invite the viewer into the work.