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Avalanche is a large-scale exploration of snow, ice, water and clouds, made of cloth, yarn and beads using fiber techniques including knitting, crochet, applique, quilting and bead embroidery. It’s about 40 feet long and 5 feet high.

My goal was to evoke massive natural forces using materials and techniques associated with little girls and old ladies.

I began knitting and crocheting some blue and white pieces, and sewing filmy fabrics. These reminded me of ice, water, snow and frost. Once I had made some pieces ideas began to develop. Clouds, rain, ice, snow, rivers, lakes and oceans connect all parts of the earth and atmosphere. Could I use my materials and skills to evoke massive geological and atmospheric forces?

I continued working with blues and whites until water images developed. It took me two years to make the pieces which became ice mountains, whirlpools, cascades, bead rivers and waterfalls. The ice mountains and whirlpools are connected by cascades, bead rivers, and waterfalls. Each river starts from an edge and connects to another river. Some layers hide other layers, giving us the feeling of moving in closer, as if we were flying.

Let this piece enhance your awareness of the interconnections of water in all its forms.

Avalanche was on display at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS, US, during March 2018.