Artist Statement
The wilderness is my muse. I am captivated by untamed places and am drawn to unstructured surroundings of woods and water. I camp, canoe, and hike in areas where there are few people and must live with only the gear I can carry. I am mindful of how I travel, by canoe or foot and watch carefully as I make my way through lakes or portages. Through weaving and dyeing, the parallels are similar: I weave, observe, change course, and proceed on my journey. The dye process introduces the element of surprise, the unknown. Through weaving, I capture my experiences and perceptions of wilderness that help me better understand my connection with the natural world: my sense of place, the contrasts of urban living with surviving in remote places, and keen observation of the elements that frighten or keep me from feeling safe.
Biography
Mary Kircher is a fiber artist and textile designer specializing in hand weaving and custom dye techniques. Through her creative process has recently been analyzing aspects of interacting with the wilderness. She interprets activities and visuals experienced while camping, canoeing, or hiking and translate these experiences into woven objects. Her techniques include woven shibori, ikat, double weave and tapestry. She makes one-of-a-kind artwork for home or office in addition to functional objects such as rugs or accessories. Mary is available to teach workshops including: Tapestry, Dyeing, Woven Shibori, Ikat Techniques, Beginning Weaving, and Weaving Journals.
Education
Master of Art + Design North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 2011
University of Minnesota: Color Theory I & II, Drawing, Minneapolis, MN 1993
B.A. Communications and Business, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN 1989
Exhibitions & Residency
2022
UNC Rex Cancer Center. “I am Light and I am Strong”. Commission for building lobby. Curated by Rory Parnell, Mahler Gallery.
2021
Pullen Art Center, Re-opening exhibit. Raleigh NC
2020
City Market Artist Collective, Solo show, Raleigh NC
2019
Horace Williams House/Preservation Chapel Hill, Solo show, Chapel Hill, NC
2018
Raleigh Fine Art Society 38th Annual Exhibition. Jennifer Dasal, Juror. Raleigh, NC The Mahler Fine Art Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2017
Raleigh Fine Art Society 37th Annual Exhibition. Michael Rooks, Juror. Raleigh, NC Carrboro Library Exhibit: Threads of the 21st Century, Carrboro,NC
2016
FORMATIONS: Boulders, Canyons and Glacial Erratics. 100 Gallery, Durham, NC. New tapestries. Solo show.
2016 Invitiational Exhibition, FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
“Reflections on Place” SKYHOUSE, Raleigh, NC. Solo show.
2015
“FLOW: Reflections on Place”, Roundabout Art Collective, Raleigh NC. Solo Show.
“Ellipse|Eclipse”, woven tapestries by Ann Roth and Mary Kircher, Artspace Upfront Gallery, Raleigh NC
“Reflections on Place” NCSU Craft Center, Raleigh, NC
2014
“Green Hill Winter Show” Greenhill, Greensboro, NC Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild, Raleigh NC Exchange Gallery, Visual Art Exchange, Four person show. “Unravelled” Miriam Block Gallery, Raleigh, NC. Three person show “SCOPE”, Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC. Third place. “Handmade 2014”, Imperial Art Center, Rocky Mount, NC Honorable Mention
2013
Durham Art Guild, 59th Annual Juried Show Artspace Artist Association, juried membership Regional Emerging Artist Show, Artspace, Raleigh, NC
Pullen Art Center, Raleigh, NC
2012
Art-To-Wear Cotton Initiative, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
Durham Art Guild 58th Annual Juried Exhibition, Durham, NC
Artspace Regional Emerging Artist Residency, Raleigh, NC, July – January
2011
Resist/Resistance, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC
Currents, Larson Art Gallery, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
Haystack School of Craft, Deer Isle, ME
N.E.W. Show, Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC
WOVENtranslations, Fishmarket Gallery, Raleigh, NC, two-person show
New Beat Exhibition, 8th International Shibori Symposium, Hong Kong. Bronze Award
2010
Blue Ridge Fiber Show, North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, NC. Awarded First Place: Amateur, non-functional weaving
Experience
Teaching Assistant, Penland School of Craft, NC with Mary Zicafoose “Tapestry: Wrapped/Unwrapped” 2014 Teacher, Ikat techniques and Weaving Journals, Artspace Studio, Raleigh, NC 2014
Teacher, Woven Shibori and Weaving Journals, Pullen Art Center, Raleigh, NC 2012/2013 Teacher, Beginning Weaving and Warp Dyeing Workshop with Triangle Weavers Guild, Raleigh, NC 2013 Teacher, Woven Shibori and Weaving Journals, Pullen Art Center, Raleigh, NC 2012/2013 Teaching Assistant, Penland School of Craft, NC, with Tommye McClure Scanlin, “Tapestry, What, Why, How” 2013 Teaching Assistant, North Carolina State University, College of Art+Design, with Kathleen Reider, Assistant Professor, “Design, Culture and Context” 2010 – 2011
Technical Assistant, Arrowmont School of Craft, Gatlinburg, with Tommye McClure Scanlin, tapestry artist, “Beginning Tapestry” 2011
Teaching Assistant, Haystack School of Craft, Deer Isle Maine, with Vita Plume, Associate Professor, “Woven Shibori” 2011
Sales and Services Information Technology Professional, IBM Corporation, Raleigh, NC 1989 – 2009
Awards
NC United Arts Council Regional Artist Project Grant for dye lab equipment, 2013 Regional Emerging Artist Residency, Artspace, Raleigh NC, 2012 Membership, Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild, 2012
Associations
Artspace Artist Association, Raleigh, NC Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh NC
Handweavers Guild of America
Surface Design Association
Textile Society of America