Patricia Malarcher

I am interested in discovering voices of different materials, especially materials that have no limits set by precedent or tradition. I work concurrently with a few ongoing series. One consists of small mixed-media collages in which fabric and thread are the constants in combination with samplings from contemporary culture— e.g., printed paper, plastic, laminated substances, or found materials. In a second series, each piece is “stitch-shaped” by hand to create a dimensional surface; the resulting texture might be suggestive of enigmatic text or the pattern of a woven textile. The stitched cloth is then dipped in clear encaustic medium to achieve a stiffened, translucent, skin-like fabric. While the design remains intact, the wax affects the overall shape in unpredictable ways. This ultimate surrender of control is a risk that becomes part of the artwork.