Kelly M O’Brien, PaperCuts, work in progress ©2021
When I get an idea for new work that might be suitable for PaperJoy Studio, the first stage is to experiment. This happened with Stitch early last year as we moved into pandemic lockdown. I reached for work to help keep me grounded and focused - a regular visit to the sewing machine and the meditative practice of stitching into paper soon grew into a series that is now in several collections and proposals for larger projects.
Kelly M O’Brien, PaperCuts, work in progress ©2021
Recent inspiration has led me to the workbench once again, this time to slice long sentences of handwritten text from paper. I can envision them evolving into poetry or prose to reflect a context or location where they are installed. For now they are secret messages and private musings, winding their way around the barn beams in my studio like a slow-growing vine.
What messages would you put into your art?