At the Loom with Doerte Weber

May 11, 2015

Having returned to weaving after a long absence, I find myself inspired by Bauhaus Weavers. Most of these women entered the Bauhaus Community thinking they would produce art like the men using glass, metal and all the media we associate with the Bauhaus period. Instead, they were forced into weaving and having taught themselves how to weave, created beautiful and unique works of art. Like them, I am self taught and German. I have lived the past 29 years in San Antonio, Texas. I consider myself a structural weaver, using diverse modern materials with old traditional patterns.

I am inspired by my surroundings. In November of 2011, I had the good fortune to visit China. I was amazed at what I saw in Beijing. Here, old and new, traditional and modern style come together. You can see it in the buildings, big doors, and ample use of bamboo while skyscrapers reflected the sky with shiny glass.

This was the first piece I wove in the Series “Modern Day Living”. I enjoyed the variety of materials I could use and how they expressed my vision.

skyscrapper — Skyscraper; 2013; cotton warp, cotton ribbon, novelty yarn, bamboo wood, metal heddles; 29 in x 48 in x 0.5 in

Followed by a skyscraper and lastly by the piece you see in Structurally Speaking:

dysmorphic_disorder — Dysmorphic Disorder;  2013;  cotton warp, silk ribbon, bamboo sticks and clear plastic wrappers;  89 in x 42 in x 1

When you first look at the piece, you see the symmetry. But if you take a closer look, you see a “difference” in the pattern of the green.

This series is still in progress. I am working on several smaller pieces to put together as an installation.

For more information on Doerte Weber you can visit her website at www.doerteweber.com. You can also learn more about her work on her blog or her Facebook page. Stop by to see her piece “Dysmorphic Disorder” in our current juried exhibition, Structurally Speaking.

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