Description
ARTIST STATEMENT
My art practice involves using traditional stitch resist shibori and fabric collage in a nontraditional way. I embrace the memory of cloth as I stitch, dye, and create the subsequent design.
“Yes! I CAN Dance!” is more than a title; it is a defiant response to a world that often asks marginalized bodies to remain still or invisible. Through the soft strength of fabric, I invite the viewer to witness the kinetic energy of these figures and the movement of notes beneath them.
These women do not move despite their size; they move with it, through it, and because of it. Their grace is not found in a standardized shape, but in the unapologetic rhythm of their own existence.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I am a retired woman living in Salem, Oregon. I chose to follow the artists path almost 6 years ago and have been exploring the use of painting and hand dying my foundation – and then using the Japanese stitch resist and other surface design techniques to explore social justice and non traditional designs. I have had the privilege to study in Japan and have been encouraged in my stitch exploration by Dr. Yoshiko Wada of the World Shibori Network Foundation. I am drawn to using stitch and hand applied surface design to share my desires and innermost thoughts as I create and imprint onto fabric. I love sharing my work and have had many opportunities do this – including being part of the shibori exhibit in Haigi, Japan in 2024 and in New York CityTextile month in 2026. I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family and sharing the joy of creating with my grandchildren.
© Glenda Mah