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Artist Statement

My name is bobbi kirk and I make beaded jewelry and mixed media fiber art. The art of beadwork has changed dramatically in the past decade or so, and has drawn many artists from other mediums who have been excited by the changes happening in it. I’m one of those artists.

Over the years, I've tramped around in the fields of creative endeavor...starting with traditional media, then coming upon the rather new field of digital art and finally settling in the ancient field of beadwork...but the beadwork has been given new life by contemporary artists who are making artistic statements with beads unlike anything seen formerly. In short, a very old art form has been given new life. The combination of ancient technique with contemporary meaning has me firmly in its grip.

When I began doing beadwork fifteen years ago, I'd begin a piece with the inspiration of a special bead or color I wanted to explore. Now I begin with a very simple idea or phrase or word and the beads I need to bring these ideas to life choose themselves. As the piece grows, it becomes a collaboration of idea, medium and artist. It's a very exciting way to work!

My current work is exploring basic themes that seem to meet in each piece...one theme is the connection between people and nature - particularly watery nature, as manifested in oceans, bays, rivers, etc. Another is the nature of mortality, and the ways we have tried to protect ourselves from it throughout the ages. Although my pieces are not directly representational, they are intended to convey something of the respect and awe I feel for the natural environment I am a part of.

A few years ago, I got my first digital camera...mainly to take photos of my artwork, I thought. Then I found myself taking a few beach photos, since I live on the coast of Oregon, and it seemed a good way to get to know the camera. I'm now on my second camera and third year of taking photos. The immediacy of photography makes a nice balance to the time and labor intensive work of beading, a balance I'll be working on for the future.