When I saw the beautiful installation work of artist Jodi Stevens I was inspired by its simplicity in both palette and form.  Her installation impediment reminds me a lot of Ann Hamilton’s performances with her use of the large table, facing chairs, and pile of materials. But with the hand wrapped stones and gray color palette it has its very own unique voice.

It seems obvious that Jodi is inspired by nature and its forms. As seen in her other lovely work Collective where the round forms both seem to reference planetary shapes, eggs, rocks, and sea life.

The repetition and collection of layers in the work is important to Jodi’s process-  she states:

My work and process of making manifests a kind of ritualistic behavior and involves the use of numerous elements and ordinary materials such as yarn, thread, and/or pieces of fabric in an unconventional way. I use the deliberate placement of material to create texture, repetition, and movement usually in an installation format. These installations frequently utilize the gradual build up of material that, to me, can represent emotion. This layering creates a mass or a moment of anticipation.

Jodi’s work can be seen along with mine at Mt. Ida College Gallery in the exhibit Designing Thread. The exhibit has a wonderful collection of diverse artists working in embroidery and if you are anywhere near Boston I highly recomend a visit to the exhibit which opens March 30.

To see more of Jodi’s work visit her site here.