ABOUT
Chris Berry creates contemporary art quilts and framed artworks using hand-dyed fabrics and mixed media collage.
In her garage studio, Chris plays with natural fibers and textile dyes to create unique designs on silk, cotton, linen and paper. Inspired by nature, poetry and song lyrics, she enhances textiles and mixed media collage creating framed artworks, art quilts and commercially available fabrics.
As a former Education Director at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Chris’ textiles reflect her knowledge and love of horticulture. Chris is an experienced educator, having served on the faculties of Seattle University and The Overlake School.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I choose textiles with fiber-reactive dyes as a medium in the same way a painter chooses paints and primed canvases. Textiles are simply the surface for my artwork. I hand-paint, scrape and screen-print colors, shapes, lines and textures on natural fibers such as cotton and silk. The hand-dyed textiles become the base for my art quilts and framed artworks.
I enjoy working with textiles because of their tactile quality. Fibers respond in ways other media do not. Textiles move and fold, occasionally they resist but are rarely rigid. There is give and take with textiles; creating art with them feels like a dance. The practice reminds me of barre exercises as a teenage ballet student: a push-and-pull of a scraper on the silk screen, a pivot from print table to sink, a pirouette when releasing the textile to the clothesline. My artmaking is kinesthetic and joyful.
I view artmaking as a practice. I do not strive for perfection or skill mastery. My primary motivation is curiosity, delighting in daily discoveries. Thank you for taking a few moments to view my work.
METHODS AND TECHNIQUES
Contemporary Art Quilting
Hand-dyed, painted and commercial fabrics are pieced, stitched and fused to create art quilts, each based on unique manipulation of color, texture and other mixed-media design elements.
Whole Cloth Surface Design
Fiber-reactive dyes are applied to natural textiles through thickened dye painting, screen printing, batik and monoprinting. After hand-dyeing, cloths are left whole as a base for art quilts or digitized for printing.
Mixed Media
Hand-painted and gel-printed papers are collaged, stitched and mounted on wood panels. Completed works are sealed with gel mediums and cold wax varnish.
RESUME
Chris Berry
Textile Artist, Educator
Woodinville, Washington
Education
Seattle University – Master of Nonprofit Leadership
Bowling Green State University – Bachelor of Arts, Marketing & Fine Arts
Washington State University – Master Gardener Certification
Professional Work Experience
Educator
The Overlake School – Faculty and Director of Service Learning
Seattle University – Adjunct Faculty, Nonprofit Leadership
University of Washington – Education Director at Washington Park Arboretum
Marketing Management
Polaroid Corporation
Owens/Corning Fiberglas
Professional Arts Education
Lake Washington Technical College
Surface Design I and II
Pacific Northwest Arts School
Expressive Dye-Painting
Enhanced Botanical Printing
Creative Strength Training
Jane Dunnewold, Curator & Instructor
Windows Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
Artist’s Way
Schack Art Center, Everett, WA
Modern Batik
Antieau Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Artist Retreat – Chris Roberts-Antieau, Instructor
Contact Chris
I am here to answer any questions you may have about my work.
Reach out to me via email and I will respond as soon as I can.
Email: chrisberryartwork@gmail.com