Cut paper has been used across the ages by many people for many
purposes. Examples range from decorations as solace for mourners to
love tokens suggesting the refinement and devotion of the sender.
My work in paper evolved from a love of drawing and an awe of the
traditional Mexican and Chinese art of paper cutting. My drawings now
serve as templates which are destroyed in the process of producing cut
work. I am exploring the translation of cut paper into more permanent
materials such as metal, suede and multi-colored stencils. The scale of
my work varies from 1"/2" paper cuts to 18 ft. vinyl window panels,
metal fences and panels.
I enjoy the juxtaposition of folk decorations with my own
interpretations, contrasting the decorative with the contemplative.
Subtle gradations of light and shadow are almost impossible to achieve
in cut paper, which epitomizes perfectly the duality of positive and
negative space, both graphically and literally. This challenges the artist
to rely on graphic design and composition for the success of the work.
Cut paper images rely on a web of connectors to hold implied lines and
shapes in place. Connectors may be hidden in the imagery or made to
stand apart, as in a grid or field that holds the imagery in place. In some
of my work, the elaborate shadow cast by the paper cut is the primary
art work created through the interplay of light upon the piece.
My works are cut with knives, hammer and chisel, and scissors. I
collect a variety of unique paper, plastic, cloth and wood materials
suitable for cutting, while seeking new applications for this unique yet
universal art form.