Sculpture: Unblock

We become stronger because of our vulnerabilities

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Artists’ Statement

Unblock explores healing and mental health, as inspired by my cataloging of many woodblocks at Kin Fabrics, and discussing concepts with Wolf, my partners for this endeavor. The Achadas, the layered under-cloth placed beneath the fabric during block printing to absorb excess ink and impressions, is used again and again, soaking up multiple impressions over time. It becomes a metaphor for the mind itself: layered, stained, and rich with memory.

In Unblock, simple masks present a face to the outside world protecting the complex beauty of our interior self. Inside are the Achadas, stained with experience and history. Above hang branches of Tulsi, Holy Basil, a sacred medicinal plant often used to alleviate stress and anxiety. Images of the Tulsi plant were among the traditional woodblock patterns I catalogued at Kin Fabrics. Here, these branches hang near the center of the structure as a symbol of hope; just as plants seek light, we seek healing.

Healing takes time. Unblock gestures towards the possibility of unblocking, of opening up. The bench invites pause and contemplation. It is only an invitation for support, not a guarantee of comfort. 

In the process of woodblock printing, the printed fabric is hung on racks to dry. The drying process requires time. Here, bamboo supports recall those drying racks, where fabrics hang and sway in the air like memory. Time is part and partner in this work.  Unblock is a work and a process, one that exists in time. Our hope is that viewers will feel invited to move through the structure, visiting with it, or simply passing through, just as strangers, friends, and family move through each of our lives.

Unblock seeks to spotlight a time honored craft while reminding us that nature and art share the healing process to regenerate and connect.

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