ARTIST STATEMENT
‘New Growth’ explores the focus of mental health and represents significant personal growth after a period of mental health issues. Two things which really helped me in this journey was joining in on the Instagram house plant trend and taking up crocheting and looming. My artwork visually combines these two positive influences in my life to create a metaphor that is intended to challenge the stigma of facing mental health, along with masculine stereotypes. Upon viewing my artwork, the audience is invited to find their own story within the piece, and to consider what mental health and nature have in common.
ARTWORK PROCESS
I was heavily inspired by artists Louise Weaver and Joana Vasconcelos and their exploitation of traditional materials and techniques in new or unexpected ways. The process for ‘New Growth’ began with crocheting an assortment of plants and flowers. These included Roses, Lilac, Strings of Pearls, and an Elkhorn Fern. The background was completed by looming strings of yarn to a metal grid. I then attached the crocheted flowers by tying them to the metal grid, and stapled the grid to a wooden frame. The wooden frame has a black painted interior with stained edges, including wire attached for display.
