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.