Janet Austin's Statement

Nature has its language. I see shapes in landscape, figure drawing, still life; I see things that make my heart beat faster. Depth excites me: crevices, nooks, crannies, the deeper woods, the shadow under a branch, the inner curve of an elbow or knee.

My inspiration derives from the visual rather than the intellectual or emotional. I prefer to allow nature to process itself through my eyes without the conscious interference of my brain, facilitating the effects of serendipity. I avoid control and seek spontaneity in my reaction to visual stimuli.

The kilim series comes from my fascination with the irregularities of color and shape that soften geometric forms.

Janet Austin's Biography

I got hooked on weaving in 1972, as an undergraduate at the Massachusetts College of Art. After struggling for eight years to make a living by weaving functional items, I enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned a Masters Degree in Fine Arts with a focus on painting. Almost accidentally, the weaving and painting came together and tapestry has been my main focus since 1983. I live in Rhode Island with my husband and two daughters. I work part time as a reference librarian and my volunteer positions include the Board of Directors of the American Tapestry Alliance (ATA), the secretary of Tapestry Weavers in New England (TWiNE) and coach of a women's soccer team.