Jane Bassuk: Looking In and Out
Virtual Exhibition
Mary Giles Gallery • January 11 – April 9, 2022
Surreal landscapes, using organic shapes derived from the flora and fauna of the natural world, abound in Jane Bassuk’s art quilts. These imaginary landscapes and spaces explore tension in the imagery, heightened by juxtapositions of color, pattern, and the mix of natural and industrial shapes. An ongoing fascination with architectural and artificial objects, combined with natural shapes and environments, dominate the compositions. Explosions, smoke, fragmenting structures, and brick patterns appear, continuing an investigation of the power of nature over man-made structures.
Of her work, Bassuk writes, “Many of my recent pieces trigger particular emotions and visual associations that relate to feminine sexuality and to my Jewish heritage. Examining loss, spirituality, and prayer have also been major aspects of source material for the work in this exhibition. For my materials, I choose specific fabrics for the feelings they evoke for me, and for their ability to imply glimpses of land, sea, and the manmade.”
Each piece is heavily embellished with embroidery and beadwork to enhance the surfaces, making them more tactile and contributing to their low relief sculptural qualities. Different textures, such as brickwork patterns, are employed along with experiments in color to develop the surfaces and play with the effects of light.
“My personal iconography includes such images as birds and spirals that to me convey flight and energy. This work reflects my continual search in trying to understand myself and my relationship with the world.”
View the exhibition in person at Textile Center, Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am – 3 pm, through April 9, 2022.
If you are interested in purchasing a piece that is for sale, please call into Textile Center at 612-436-0464 between 11 AM and 3 PM, Tuesday – Saturday.
(Featured image: Collection from Jane Bassuk: Looking In and Out)
IDENTITY and HERITAGE
Celestial Treasures
2020
19″ x 18.25″
Cotton, beads, brooches, charm
Embroidery
NFS
Beyond the Pale
2016
21″ x 20″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Vanitas
2018
16″ x 14″
Cotton, beads, watch
Embroidery
NFS
Hinenie/Here I Am
1999
22″ x 23″
Cotton, beads, photo transfer
Embroidery
NFS
Hamsa
2021
18″ x 18″
Cotton, beads, buttons
Embroidery
NFS
First Light
2013
22.5″ x 22″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
FEMINISM and SEXUALITY
Venus’ Pleasure
2014
17″ x 17″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Backbone
2021
18″ x 13.75″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Building Dreams
2010
17″ x 27″
Cotton, beads, photo transfer
Embroidery
NFS
Nascent
2010
11.5″ x 11.5″
Cotton, beads, human hair
Embroidery
NFS
Insemination
2014
18″ x 18.5″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Arboreal Goddess
2020
15.75″ x 17″
Cotton, beads, charm
Embroidery
NFS
Womb
2021
14.25″ x 13″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
NATURAL and ARTIFICIAL WORLDS
Showers
2018
16″ x 16″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Star
2011
16″ x 16.25″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Jewel Leaf
2020
13.5″ x 13.5″
Cotton, beads, charm
Embroidery
NFS
Sunflower Burst
2020
16.25″ x 16″
Cotton, beads, charm
Embroidery
NFS
Looking In
2018
17.5″ x 15″
Cotton, beads, photo transfer
Embroidery
NFS
Knot Holes
2015
18″ x 18.5″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Power Plant
2021
17.5″ x 19.25″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Troposphere
2017
18.25″ x 17.5″
Cotton, beads, photo transfer
Embroidery
NFS
Shell
2020
20″ x 20.5″
Cotton, beads, charm
Embroidery
$2,000
Water Vortex
2013
20″ x 20″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Back to the Sea
2015
18.5″ x 18.5″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Individual Quilts
HaMakom (The Place)
2009
20″ x 20″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Under a Leaf
2014
20″ x 20″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Leaf Portals
2015
33.5″ x 18″
Cotton, beads, photo transfer
Embroidery
NFS
Hand Made
2015
20″ x 20″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Hard to Reach
2015
18.75″ x 22″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Eternal Light
2015
20″ x 20″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Intersection
2015
20″ x 20″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Fire Place
2015
20″ x 20.5″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Charged
2017
22″ x 20.5″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Electric Temple
2018
20″ x 18.25″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Beyond the Dock
2019
15″ x 17.5″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
The Path
2020
15.5″ x 16″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Breaking Apart
2021
22″ x 22.5″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Light Behind the Tower
2021
16.5″ x 17.5″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
$2,000
Epiphany
2021
16″ x 21″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS
Connections
2021
14″ x 17″
Cotton, beads
Embroidery
NFS