Thoughts from Collectors
“Simply put, for us, “Breathing Fog” is a meditation, a visual reminder to breathe and enter the contemplative present.”
– J&J. Applegate
"Every time I walk into the room with your work, I feel so calm and inspired. So moved, and engaged. It really seems as though you see things beyond actual observation, which brings forth an emotional equation within the layers of fabric and thread."
-A. Evans
"In general, I look for pieces that capture me at a distance, yet also keep me captivated close up. I also want to be inspired to think, dream, or to create my own work. Your art achieves all this and in a beautifully subtle way. "Memory:Tinicum" is the most wonderful landscape to me - beautiful and quietly beckoning. I love the atmosphere and the colors, together with the specific textile combinations. In it, you’ve created a space that allows me to enter the piece and get lost in my thoughts and dreams - something I relish doing! “Two Halves Similar” is pure gutsy inspiration for me. The colors are bolder, the textiles are skewed into their own chosen shapes, while the mark-making with stitching is shown to its best advantage.
...I appreciated the time you spent with me in your studio, as well as allowing me to have time alone to contemplate your work so I could figure out which pieces spoke to me the most.”
– J. Ducote
“My husband and I approach shows differently, he systematically and I following my eyes and my heart in whichever direction. This time we each went our own way and when we met to talk about what we had experienced, we were each attracted independently to Karen Henderson’s piece, “Early Autumn.” It is a gentle and very complex piece and invites the viewer to contemplation.
Karen used many process on this piece: dye, rust, overlay, and embroidery to create a scene with powerful depth. What I see is a field surrounded by woodland. The harvest has been taken and the field is fallow waiting for the next planting season. “Early Autumn” invites me be fallow, to rest, and have a quiet time. It reminds me of my grandparents who were farmers in Georgia. The same iron oxide that Karen used as a medium, made the clay soil on their farm red. Eventually I have a conversation with myself about my humble beginnings, which always end with gratitude that I can own pieces of artwork that I love. This piece says something about who I am and that I love textiles. Friends do ask us about it and I love explaining how it was made."
- G. Moody
“When walking the PMA craft show, as I do in all galleries, I first look for works that impact me, art that draws me in to see more of it, as I casually walk the show. I am partial to fiber art and am particularly drawn to yours because of the depiction of reality and obscurity in your work. I have both examples of your work in my office and often use them as contemplative works to simply daze into while considering decisions I make. During a busy day I can always take a minute to look into either “Wander” or “Butterfly’s Journey Home” and be calmed or centered before returning to my daily pace.
I often like to take walks to clear my head and consider things. Your work allows me to simulate this experience without leaving my office during a busy day. I enjoy the depth perspective created in your art as well as the use of different media used to create the image. The textures are soft and inviting while being mysterious, creating a curiousness about them.”
- M. Berger
“The colors are so beautiful and are totally soft and light. The textures are organized, but not tight, and although there is no light behind it, there is the feeling of light moving through the piece. I enjoy the feelings of softness and the firmness of the textures.
I live in a bright contemporary New York City apartment and have lots of art in my eclectic collection to keep your piece “Looking Through” company. Thank you for your interest in my impressions, and thank you for your creativity and skill.”
- D. Sunshine
“I have been collecting fiber art for a number of years. When I buy a piece it has to grab me. We have a place in the DC region and a condo in the midwest that was built in the 1980's and decorated by a Palm Beach, CA designer. It was a little (actually a lot) over the top. We took out half of the mirrors (there are still tons), got rid of some of the outrageous wallpaper and furnished it with more clean lines of furniture. There are two wonderful mirrored display cases where I keep many of the craft pieces I have purchased through the years. Your landscape is absolutely beautiful on one of the shelves next to a wonderful small orange teapot I acquired several years ago. I had picked out an orange couch for the room. Sounds absolutely outrageous I know, but it works! I find that smaller art pieces work very well on shelves with other collectables, which helps if you’re running low on wall space! “Tension Amidst Beauty” and the Fong Choo porcelain teapot are really nice companions.”
- Anonymous
“Storm” is no doubt our favorite piece in our small collection. Even though it is titled “Storm”, it is quiet, subtle– harmonious – a strong statement about a big subject – Nature! This artwork is like music – weaving and fibers are good vehicles for this piece. We greatly appreciate the sense of craftsmanship and attention to detail.”
- J&R. Heep
“I have been meaning to write to tell you how much I enjoy your work every single day. We moved a few years back and I decided I would have to move the "triptych" out of my bedroom and into a more public part of the house so others could appreciate your art as well. It took a while to find the right spot, and I have to tell you that they ended up right back in my bedroom, as I didn't want to miss waking up to them each morning. “Walpack Autumn”, “Dusk Gathers” and “Interconnected” are peaceful pieces, full of light, and looking at them first thing is just the right way to start every day.
I know my client Carol loves the two pieces we commissioned for her living room, as well.”
- D. Slade
– J&J. Applegate
"Every time I walk into the room with your work, I feel so calm and inspired. So moved, and engaged. It really seems as though you see things beyond actual observation, which brings forth an emotional equation within the layers of fabric and thread."
-A. Evans
"In general, I look for pieces that capture me at a distance, yet also keep me captivated close up. I also want to be inspired to think, dream, or to create my own work. Your art achieves all this and in a beautifully subtle way. "Memory:Tinicum" is the most wonderful landscape to me - beautiful and quietly beckoning. I love the atmosphere and the colors, together with the specific textile combinations. In it, you’ve created a space that allows me to enter the piece and get lost in my thoughts and dreams - something I relish doing! “Two Halves Similar” is pure gutsy inspiration for me. The colors are bolder, the textiles are skewed into their own chosen shapes, while the mark-making with stitching is shown to its best advantage.
...I appreciated the time you spent with me in your studio, as well as allowing me to have time alone to contemplate your work so I could figure out which pieces spoke to me the most.”
– J. Ducote
“My husband and I approach shows differently, he systematically and I following my eyes and my heart in whichever direction. This time we each went our own way and when we met to talk about what we had experienced, we were each attracted independently to Karen Henderson’s piece, “Early Autumn.” It is a gentle and very complex piece and invites the viewer to contemplation.
Karen used many process on this piece: dye, rust, overlay, and embroidery to create a scene with powerful depth. What I see is a field surrounded by woodland. The harvest has been taken and the field is fallow waiting for the next planting season. “Early Autumn” invites me be fallow, to rest, and have a quiet time. It reminds me of my grandparents who were farmers in Georgia. The same iron oxide that Karen used as a medium, made the clay soil on their farm red. Eventually I have a conversation with myself about my humble beginnings, which always end with gratitude that I can own pieces of artwork that I love. This piece says something about who I am and that I love textiles. Friends do ask us about it and I love explaining how it was made."
- G. Moody
“When walking the PMA craft show, as I do in all galleries, I first look for works that impact me, art that draws me in to see more of it, as I casually walk the show. I am partial to fiber art and am particularly drawn to yours because of the depiction of reality and obscurity in your work. I have both examples of your work in my office and often use them as contemplative works to simply daze into while considering decisions I make. During a busy day I can always take a minute to look into either “Wander” or “Butterfly’s Journey Home” and be calmed or centered before returning to my daily pace.
I often like to take walks to clear my head and consider things. Your work allows me to simulate this experience without leaving my office during a busy day. I enjoy the depth perspective created in your art as well as the use of different media used to create the image. The textures are soft and inviting while being mysterious, creating a curiousness about them.”
- M. Berger
“The colors are so beautiful and are totally soft and light. The textures are organized, but not tight, and although there is no light behind it, there is the feeling of light moving through the piece. I enjoy the feelings of softness and the firmness of the textures.
I live in a bright contemporary New York City apartment and have lots of art in my eclectic collection to keep your piece “Looking Through” company. Thank you for your interest in my impressions, and thank you for your creativity and skill.”
- D. Sunshine
“I have been collecting fiber art for a number of years. When I buy a piece it has to grab me. We have a place in the DC region and a condo in the midwest that was built in the 1980's and decorated by a Palm Beach, CA designer. It was a little (actually a lot) over the top. We took out half of the mirrors (there are still tons), got rid of some of the outrageous wallpaper and furnished it with more clean lines of furniture. There are two wonderful mirrored display cases where I keep many of the craft pieces I have purchased through the years. Your landscape is absolutely beautiful on one of the shelves next to a wonderful small orange teapot I acquired several years ago. I had picked out an orange couch for the room. Sounds absolutely outrageous I know, but it works! I find that smaller art pieces work very well on shelves with other collectables, which helps if you’re running low on wall space! “Tension Amidst Beauty” and the Fong Choo porcelain teapot are really nice companions.”
- Anonymous
“Storm” is no doubt our favorite piece in our small collection. Even though it is titled “Storm”, it is quiet, subtle– harmonious – a strong statement about a big subject – Nature! This artwork is like music – weaving and fibers are good vehicles for this piece. We greatly appreciate the sense of craftsmanship and attention to detail.”
- J&R. Heep
“I have been meaning to write to tell you how much I enjoy your work every single day. We moved a few years back and I decided I would have to move the "triptych" out of my bedroom and into a more public part of the house so others could appreciate your art as well. It took a while to find the right spot, and I have to tell you that they ended up right back in my bedroom, as I didn't want to miss waking up to them each morning. “Walpack Autumn”, “Dusk Gathers” and “Interconnected” are peaceful pieces, full of light, and looking at them first thing is just the right way to start every day.
I know my client Carol loves the two pieces we commissioned for her living room, as well.”
- D. Slade