Description
ARTIST STATEMENT
Symbols and narrative woven into textiles have documented cultures throughout history. The words “text” and “textile” both come from the Latin “texere” – to weave. In 2023, I began making work in reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the unraveling of women’s rights in many states. Since then, norms have been disrupted at an alarming rate.
Weaving has long been used as a metaphor for the interconnectedness of life, but it is also a laborious practice. Working row by row, building a visual image, threads are interlaced, strengthening the structure of the whole cloth. I ask myself, can I also weave grace into the connective tissue between people and strengthen our society?
The work I am submitting explores the Goddess Athena, who embodies wisdom and reason, promoting skill and intelligence. She was a fierce warrior, one who fought for justice and defense, not mere conflict. Also, the Greek goddess of crafts, especially weaving. She embodies qualities we need to promote in our unstable time.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Cyndy Barbone (she,her) is a practicing artist based in Greenwich, NY, where she lives and maintains a studio. Working primarily on the handloom, she creates figurative work, inscribing her woven textiles with images that are personal yet have cultural references. For her, weaving is a metaphor for the creation of a better world, whether in a portrait or a narrative.
Barbone’s work has been shown nationally and was included in the VIII International Biennial of Contemporary Textile Art in Madrid. She represented the US at the International Women Artists Federation in Mauritius (2024). She has received several grants and awards, including a New York State Rural and Traditional Arts Fellowship(2024). Barbone has an MFA from California College of Art.
© Cyndy Barbone