Joanne Weis is a mixed media textile artist, originally from Providence Rhode Island, now living in Louisville Kentucky. With an MSW from Washington University, St. Louis, she had a full career as a social worker. After retiring, she graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Louisville Fine Arts program with a focus on fiber and textiles. In addition to creating fiber art, she juries and curates shows, teaches, and, as past president of the Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists, promotes appreciation of fiber and textile art within the community. Her work can be found in numerous private collections around the country.
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, I am very conscious of my place in the continuum of life cycles, my position between ancestors and grandchildren. Art is more than something we see and touch and, for me, creating art is my way of speaking my truth. Fabric and paper, stitch and image are the tools I use to record the stories I find important, recognizing our world is fragmented but hoping we can heal. My recent work demonstrates that. My art uses fiber, color and texture to make visible my concerns for social justice, the environment and spirituality. The entire creative process – research, fiber selection, color discovery, design decisions, stitch – thrills me but most rewarding is when this art graces a wall and my truths are “self-evident”.
