Sarah spent her early childhood days learning and sewing alongside her mother on a cast iron portable Singer, and exploring the woods and creeks of the Hudson Valley around their family home. She discovered a love of working with metals in high school, but added print making to her skill set in college, where she also worked with clay in her role as a potter’s assistant. “I am a taker of photographs, searcher of beauty in all forms, a practicer of yoga and have been for about six years now,” she says. “I dabble in meditation and breath work too.”
What is your preferred medium?
My preferred medium is printmaking yet not on paper like most would think – on fabric. I took printmaking in college and really enjoyed it. I didn’t get to print for many years. Fast-forward to Rachel Lackey starting Green Pea Press Printmaking Collective at Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment, where I am a member, which gives me access to the printmaking equipment. I have been sewing since I was very young, making clothes for myself and my children. Making my own fabric designs seemed like the next natural step for me.
What inspires you as an artist?
When I sit down to come up with another print to print on fabric, I often look at my sketch book that I have sketched something in loosely that drew my attention at the time, or I look at nature guide books. My designs come from nature, other shapes and objects I see on a daily basis, and I interpret them in a simple, minimal way into a sketch that can be repeated on fabric. One of my favorite places is the Hudson River, which is a tidal estuary that creates these amazingly smooth rocks and glass, and has always been a source of inspiration for my art over the years.
Do you try to convey messages, stories or specific themes in your pieces?
Art can be made from something that already exists and can be something that everyone can use over again and in many different ways, which is being kind to the Earth. I often refer to the William Morris quote when people ask me about my art and why I make it: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Not all people can afford a large piece of art to hang on their wall. My pieces are small, everyday objects that add art and beauty to people’s lives. This also plays into my minimalist lifestyle as my art tends to be pieces that are multi-purpose; you don’t need lots of them, just a few.
What can people expect to see in your exhibit at the Moss Rock Festival?
People can expect to see a large array of textiles, all with my original prints on them like a total eclipse wall hanging, gods and goddesses (one-of-a-kind dolls) to pot holders, napkins and zipper pouches. Right now the pieces that are meaningful to me are the patchwork placemats and pocket goddesses. The patchwork placemats are made from remnants of my printed fabric and other fabrics that were laying around—even the bias tape used to finish the edge of the placemats I made from scraps of fabric. The pocket goddesses are special to me because I have enjoyed taking them on journeys with me and documenting the journey (this was a suggestion from a friend of my daughters).
What impact has art had on your life?
I can’t ever remember art not being a part of my life. My mom was always drawing illustration with her pastels. Art got me through high school. If it weren’t for my art classes, I am not sure I would have continued to go to school. In college I was an art major. I can always remember feeling the desire to create art. Once I had my kids, I remember reading about handiwork as an important part of the Waldorf curriculum and that further encouraged me to introduce them to art as soon as I could. My kids grew up messy painting, gluing and working with clay very early on. And my daughter at 21 still really enjoys making art.
