Botanical-Dyed Textile Work Steps Into the Gallery
For many years, botanical-dyed textiles have been a quiet and steady part of my studio practice. Between dye flower garden, dye pots, and stacks of plant-dyed fabrics, where pieces slowly come together—layers of fabric, threads crossing, textures forming.
Working with botanical dyes and natural fibers is both a routine and a discovery. It is where curiosity meets play: exploring color, texture, and structure using fabrics dyed with bark, leaves, and flowers. Each piece evolves slowly, guided by the materials themselves.
This spring marks a special moment. For the first time, these botanical-dyed textile artworks - Becoming Series - I, II, III, IV , are stepping outside the studio and into a community gallery exhibition.
A Practice Rooted in Plants and Observation
My path into botanical dyeing began through science. I was trained in plant biology and microscopic imaging, studying the intricate structures and patterns found in nature.
Botanical dyeing opened a new way for me to explore.
Instead of observing plants under magnification, I began learning how they release color into natural fibers. Leaves, bark, roots, and flowers contain pigments that respond to water, heat, minerals, and time. Watching those transformations happen inside the dye pot felt both scientific and deeply creative.
Exploring Color, Texture and Transformation
In the studio, the work moves between experimentation and composition—testing color combinations, rearranging fabrics, and exploring how natural fibers like linen and cotton absorb plant dyes. These subtle shifts in tone and texture become the foundation for layered compositions.
Botanical-dyed fabrics are assembled into dimensional forms where intersecting bands create structure, while loose threads and textured edges bring softness and movement. Geometry meets organic form, and each piece becomes a constructed landscape where fragments interact and support one another.
Transformation runs through both process and meaning. Plants release color into fiber, and fabric fragments are reshaped into new forms. For this Women’s History Month exhibition, transformation reflects strength—the ability to create, nurture, and rebuild. Rooted in nature and guided by hand, the work speaks to growth, balance, and renewal.
A First Exhibition
While textile experimentation has long been part of my studio routines, this exhibition marks the first time these works are presented publicly as a collection.
Moving from the quiet space of the studio into a community gallery setting at Birdhouse is both exciting and meaningful. It allows the work to connect with viewers and become part of a larger conversation about nature, humanity and creativity.
I’m deeply honored to share this exhibition alongside other talented women artists.
She Finds Joy in the Journey
A Women’s History Month Art Series
March 8 – March 31, 2026
The Birdhouse
6 Chestnut St. #210
Amesbury, MA 01913
Visitors are invited to vote for their favorite artwork throughout the month of March. Scan the QR code to vote!
