CHAR NORMAN
WEAVER/SCULPTOR
"The work I am engaged in stems from a deep-rooted connection to natural objects and environmental issues while examining the relationship between man and nature. Reverential attitudes and nurturing acts contrast with the destruction of nature. The pod forms I use are both a type of shroud for natural relics and a womb or cradle for rebirth. This dichotomy of ideas is further expressed by the mending of natural objects through the violent act of stitching and fastening parts together. I find it fascinating and somewhat meditative to achieve a whole through the slow and gradual building up of small elements. Weaving is based on this principle and my drawing technique mirrors this idea as I layer graphite and colored pencil to create the image. Even the fibers in my handmade paper echo the idea of small units building to become a whole. Manipulation of materials and the use of traditional techniques in surprising or nontraditional ways are challenging and engage me in problem solving. The engineering necessary to create a three-dimensional piece on a loom intended for two-dimensional processes and the use of soft materials to form substantial objects is of particular interest. As I continue to explore natural relics as icons, votives, or objects of reverence, I hope to engage the viewer in a way of seeing that may lead to a respect and appreciation for the environment. Future plans call for returning my sculptures to the location from where the natural object was taken. In this way I give back and let the elements take their natural course in the cycle of life."
