Nancy Warren
TransformationsFiber
Mount Pleasant, SC
Fiber and Jewelry
I began weaving in 1979 and fell in love with fiber arts. I bought my first floor loom in 1980. I have been weaving ever since, feeling a part of the ancient tribe of women and men who make cloth. I studied design at the Glassell School of Art in Houston Texas, and have taken numerous workshops and classes in weaving, dyeing, and printmaking. I studied dyes and warp painting with Michelle Whipplinger of Color Trends, taking my first class with her in 1990. As part of my studies, I have immersed myself in the ancient weaves from around the world in museums, galleries, learning about weaving and cloth from different cultures.
Weaving is extremely satisfying, as it can be simple or complex. I love the tactile nature of working with fibers; it is an extraordinary process that engages all of my senses. Weaving involves many contrasts and seeming contradictions. Weaving teaches patience and attention to detail. It is meditative, with repetitive motions in the making process, but it is never boring. I enjoy the surprises, the "what if" moments, the opportunity to try the new (and sometimes fail). I have to be willing to risk [for example mixing weaving yarns and metal, recycling or found objects]. There is so much to learn within the craft, with thousands of different weave structures and infinite ways to interlace colors and materials. I also enjoy teaching, and sharing my work in my Guild, Gallery and in shows. When an observer says "I didn't know anybody still did that" or I see the light of excitement, then I know I have made an impact.
My design (creative) process begins with a decision as to what object that I wish to make. I find inspiration in the natural world, colors and patterns that I see, the materials which surround me, or in a statement that I want to make. If I am using tapestry weaving to make a statement, I may choose to speak about the beauty of our state’s mountain roads, or concern about beach pollution. When I am making a garment, scarf, or other accessory, the colors, yarns, and weave structure may lead the way, as I create a wearable item. I want the wearer to feel comfortable and "hugged" in one of my woven scarves. I express this wish in a variety of media, such as weaving, felting, or jewelry with fiber and metal.