My name is Patricia and I’m a fiber artist. I don’t really recall how I got into fibers, because it wasn’t something that I intentionally decided to do. It all grew in me throughout the years without even realizing it. I had never heard the concept of being a fiber artist before. I grew up in Yucatan where there is a long tradition for embroidery brought by the Spanish. Women incorporate them into the (usually) floral designs of their traditional huipiles. They also use beautiful lace to decorate their underskirts.
My first memories at handling fabric brings the image of my mother choosing the right materials, that would later be sewn onto dresses for my sister and I. She was great at drafting a pattern onto the fabric itself without the need of a template. Boy, she was gutsy and even at my early age, I could appreciate and admire the special gift she had in her hands. It came so naturally to her that I think she didn’t really know the level of her skill. My grandmother was what is called a mestiza, which is a mixture of Spanish and Indian blood.
She wore the traditional Yucatecan huipil embroidered with bright and bold colors in a white fabric usually made out of cotton or linen, and she would adorn her neck with beautiful filigree gold jewelry. I vividly remember the moment when we sat on her couch and she taught me for the first time, cross-stitch. I also remember getting fabric scraps from seamstresses around my neighborhood that I would then use to make wee clothes for my dolls. Those were real treasures! Years have since passed, but those were the true foundations for the love that I now have for fibers. I discovered working with wool as a matter of necessity.
When I got to California in 1995 I felt vulnerable to the cold weather of the north. Wool made me comfortable and enabled me to enjoy the new environment. I don’t have a formal training in art, but I entered the world of felting for the first time several years ago, through the guidance of Polly Stirling, the pioneer of Nuno Felting.
I remember the feelings and excitement I had when I first dove into learning a whole new language that wool and silk speak when they get together. I also took a class with Vilte and Irit Dulman where I was introduced to the art of transferring prints of plants onto fabric. I’ve been inspired by artists like Claudy Jongstra, India Flint and Irit Dulman whose works are not just pieces of art but also reveal a different perspective to the viewer of the materials that we usually take for granted. I still don’t know where all these experiments will take me, but I can’t wait to see it.
Artist Reception with Patricia Briceño
Friday, October 22 from 7-8 p.m.
This virtual event will feature a conversation with the artist discussing several pieces, followed by a Q&A session. Registration required; register via Eventbrite. This event is free; donations are encouraged. To donate, please visit our donation page here and mention this event by name in the comments section.
Purchasing Art –
To purchase Patricia’s works, send an email to pbp1967@mac.com or check out her website at http://BeesyBeeFibers.com. A portion of the proceeds goes to support the Dance Palace.