HAND SEWN MASKS by Kathrine Page

“Continuing my series paying tribute to the accomplishments of artists I either curated or respect throughout history, this one honors Rick Rothrock, founder of The Delaware Contemporary. The origin of Rothrock’s labors in founding the organization set the stage for 40 years of continued service and opportunities for artists. In 2019, I invited Rothrock and Stan Smokler to showcase their work. The exhibition, Origins, featured the arresting stone carving of Rick Rothrock complemented by Stan Smokler’s edgy welding. The exhibition not only heralded the veracity of sculpture, but work that celebrates the life forces of the earth in stone, metal, and design, where both weight and airiness flourish. Critical to Rothrock’s sculptures are the play of light and shadows in the curvilinear and organic abstractions. I conceived the origins for this mask inspired by Rothrock and as a celebration of my maternal line of seamstresses: both Grandmother and mother. Layers of fabric intersect and overlay indicating feminine ancestral connections and the imprint on my life. The interdependent fragments, that are both machine-sewn and hand-sewn are bound together; the once separate entities are now made whole unified by color harmony and visual texture.”

MATERIALS: 100% Linen, 100% silk, Pellon interfacing, polyester ribbon and organza