George-Ann Bowers

Artist Statement:

     Nature is a source of thrill and wonder for me. I am enthralled by its chaotic beauty, and I find as well a sense of balance and spiritual renewal in the exploration and contemplation of natural phenomena. The intricacy of bark or fungus on a tree trunk captivates me as much as the delicate arrangement of flower petals or the textured sweep of stone in an ancient volcanic deposit.  I weave complex layers of warp and weft to capture this magical mix of color, texture, pattern and structure.
     As the patterns of nature are the result of forces and processes occurring over time, so does my weaving require an intense temporal investment. My process is slow and hypnotic, and calls for a focus that creates a separation from daily urban life and its stresses. It is my form of meditation. I employ traditional double-weave pickup as my basic method, and incorporate additional techniques such as tapestry, warp painting, additional layers (triple-weave), and various methods to increase dimension. I frequently work with woven sculpture and eccentric shapes to move beyond the bounds of a rectangular format.
     In recent work I refer to the human form, using clothing shapes as a framework for nature imagery. Through this work I illustrate a connection between the natural world and the human body. Though these pieces are not made to be worn, I intend for them to invite the viewer’s identification with nature in a personal, even corporeal, sense.

    Textile artist George-Ann Bowers has created woven artwork for exhibition and commission for more than 25 years.  Her formal training includes studies at the California College of Arts in Oakland, and Fiberworks Center for the Textile Arts and Pacific Basin School of Textile Arts in Berkeley, California.   
     Bowers exhibits her nature-based weavings in venues throughout the United States. International exhibits include the Fifth International Textile Art Triennial in Tournai, Belgium, and “Hard Twist 6: Obsession” at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, Canada.  She finds inspiration for her artwork during frequent adventures in the outdoors, and has completed artist residencies at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, Acadia National Park in Maine, and the Grand Canyon.  
     Bowers’ artwork has appeared in publications including Fiberarts magazine, the Surface Design Association Journal and The Guild Designer’s Sourcebook series.  Her weavings are represented in the collections of Home News Enterprises of Columbus, Indiana; King County, Washington; and Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, as well as in private collections.  She continues to explore nature through weaving in her Berkeley studio.