| STATEMENT |
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I have become a custodian of memories with my works serving as repositories for keepsakes. The works remain meditations on the beauty of rituals developed over time to satisfy the fundamental human need to mark important passages in life. Cultural and religious mementos from both historic and contemporary references inspire the work. Nineteenth century memento mori hair jewelry, contemporary floral makeshift shrines, prayer beads, wedding rings, quilts and Buddhist mandalas are referenced. The geometric schemes of Gothic cathedral rose windows and the numeric configurations of religious prayer beads inform the work. Handmade doll’s clothes, jewelry, buttons, worn bedspreads, clothing and table linens join the repertoire of symbolically significant materials - rose petals, synthetic hair, rings, bone beads and handmade rose beads (inspired by a 13th-century recipe for rosary beads). Guitar-strings are used as a dedication to my brother, Scot Sharrett (1961-2001), as are the song titles chosen to name the works. His collection of hundreds of guitar-string ball-ends inspired my Arrangement series of work which was developed during my residency at Weir Farm in November 2001. The "Mementos" series (1998-2001), was dedicated to my mother, Virginia Sharrett. Phrases from her letters title the works. A variety of needlework techniques are used, including crochet, embroidery and needlelace. My work is represented by Pavel Zoubok
Gallery in NYC. |
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
| Guitar, Harp & Violin Strings: Gifts of: Paul Bloomstrom, Elizabeth Callen, Jessa Callen, Mike Corso, Tom Crandall, Larry Deming, Nekia Caprice Fox, Abby Gardner, Fred Gillen Jr., Lara Herscovitch, Jake Jones, Shane Konen, Nicholas Mann, Bill Massof, Rob Moore, Scot Sharrett, Rod Teets, Brad Travis, Jack van der Mark, Mark Wasserman, Tracey Wilson, Jenna Young Natural Materials (Bone beads, Dirt, Garnet, Hair, Roses, Willow branches): Gifts of: Bette Alexander, Lisa Breslow, Julie Brunner Cross, Jack Conrad, Nancy Curcio & Nicholas Mann, Suzanne Dunay, Marie Flores, Bruce & Dite Garrison, Melissa Green, Jennifer Johnson, Ken Kamber, Ronnie Kamber, Marion Wilson, Pavel Zoubok Notes: Dirt bases are created by embedding dirt into a lace support. Since 2001 dirt has been used as a material for the biblical reference, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” in response to the World Trade Center recovery effort occurring while I was sorting through my brother’s belongings following his death on 9/2/2001. Synthetic & human hair is used as reference to the 19th century Memento Mori hair jewelry. The hair is often worked in a needlelace stitch, an originating lace making stitch. My mother taught me this stitch to make handmade buttonholes. She would say, “The sign of a well-made garment is handmade buttonholes”.Both rose petals & handmade beads created using a 13th century recipe for rosary beads made from crushed rose petals are used in the works. Roses were first used in my work in 1998 as a reference to the present day practice of creating makeshift roadside floral memorials. Images of Willow trees are symbolic in Memento Mori. Fabrics & Notions (Buttons, Clothing, Doll’s clothes, Hankies, Lace, Neckties, Safety & Straight Pins, Table Linens, Thread, Ties, Quilt): Gifts of: Jorge Arango & James Tissof, Margaret Mathews Berenson, Sylvia Curcio, Bruce & Dite Garrison, Ken Kamber, Mirijana Kocho, Dara Myers Kingsley, Dayle Vander Sande, Meagan Shein, Maritta Tapanainen Note: Thread from American & Efird Mills in North Carolina where my mother worked is used in the works.. Jewelry (Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces, Pins, Rhinestones, Rosaries): Gifts of: Miriam Donn, Tim Grajek, Lori Kamber, Mirijana Kocho, Virginia Sharrett, Chris Tanner Song Titles: Technical
Support: Production
Assistance: Digital
Photography: |