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Janette Merriman — Fiber

Artist Statement:

I enjoy entwining my love for the traditional and contemporary in my weaving.  Weaving provides a tactile feel of soft and hard, smooth and rough and the visual scene of big and little, bright and dull all combined in one medium that captivates my senses.  My weavings are in an inlay technique, a base of plain weave (warp and weft) and a pattern thread that is inlaid during the weaving process.  One technique I enjoy is Theo Moorman, a thin fine thread holds down the pattern thread on the surface of the plain weave.  My favorite technique is termed transparent; when light comes from the back through the sheer open weave the pattern threads are enhanced, adding an additional element to the senses.  These inlay techniques that I use provide the versatility of using different types of weft; such as items gathered from nature, cut up pantyhose and bits I find at a thrift shop.  The unusual in the weft adds a sense of whimsy that provides fun in weaving and life!  

Biography:

Janette moved back to Oregon in 1989 to be closer to family and to return to where she was raised.  Growing up in Corvallis, Oregon she learned to weave in high school.  She attended Oregon State University earning a degree in American history with a minor in clothing and textiles.  Initially pursuing a career involving her love of history she went on to work as curator of collections in several state and county historic museums in the United States for 20 years.  Now, when she is not weaving with the unusual, you find her having fun in mountains or at the ocean. 

Education:

B.S. 1983 Liberal Arts, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Affiliations:

• Member, Benton County Historical Society and Museum, Philomath, OR
• Member, Contemporary Fiber Guild, Corvallis, OR.
• Member, Corvallis Arts Center, Corvallis, OR

Grants/Awards:

Honorarium, Transparencies…An Everlasting Vision, Rogue Valley Handweavers Guild, Medford, OR, 2008 and 2009

Juried and Invitational Exhibitions:

• Shrines and Reliquaries, Corvallis Arts Center, Corvallis, OR, 2009
• Dancing Hands, Springfield Museum, Springfield, OR, 2008/2009
• Spirit of the Rogue, Firehouse Gallery Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR, 2007, Honorable Mention award.
• Women’s Things:  Reassessing Everyday Objects, Wiseman Gallery Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR, 2006
• Portland State University, Portland, OR,   2005 NW National Service Symposium
• Far Out Fiber 2005, Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, OR, 2005. 
• Visual Rescue, Rogue Gallery, Medford, OR, 2002

Currant Gallery Representation:

The River Gallery, Independence, OR, artist affiliation

Visit Janette Merriman's website.