Rachel Obenhaus: Almost There

Artist Statement

Weaving gives me great delight and great pain. My aim is to express these visceral emotions through the passings of the fibers from warp to weft. Two spine surgeries in 2021 left many obstacles in my path to finding comfort again. Unbeknownst to me, this would lead to learning new forms of my art in order to care for myself - working on frame and table looms instead of floor looms. My current work has become an outlet for not only my frustration and anger and pain, but also for my triumphs and love and joy. The quiet repetition of twisting over and under offers time to listen to my body and mind in such a busy world. This weaving in particular shows the struggle I have felt internally while coping with chronic pain. It precariously balances positive and negative space, and invites the viewer for a closer look to see the detailed stitches twining the piece together. The richly colored fibers of the weft were chosen to emphasize the natural shade of the warp. The warp acts as a skeleton of the piece, holding all the strands together.