Whales I Series, 2008-2009

Growing up in New England with its widow’s walks, I was always aware of the era when men went to sea for trade and whaling. In this series, I explore the “romance,” brutality, and controversy surrounding whaling: past, present, and future. Graphic whalelike shapes and water patterns are used to explore the many aspects of whale life, whaling, and ocean ecology.

A percentage of all proceeds from this series is donated to Orca Network, a Northwest organization for actively protecting local orcas.

In 2008 I began using encaustic wax mixtures for their particular sense of depth when fused over hand-dyed fabrics. Since 2009 areas of hand-dyed and stitched textiles are left exposed next to those covered in clear and pigmented encaustic.

Format: All are mounted on stretcher bars and measure 22" by 28" before framing. They are either vertical/portrait format (28h x 22w) or horizontal/landscape (22h x 28w) format, and each has a simple painted wood frame ready for hanging.

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