ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I took solace in my artwork to counter balance the stress of my law enforcement career.  I quickly identified beads as my medium of choice.  These complex, tactile artistic atoms allowed me to create structure as well as a textural embellished finish with a great amount of detail using various off loom stitching techniques.  Sewing the colorful molecules together under a light seemed the perfect offset for the short, dark Alaska winter days and yet also celebrated the colors and energy of the long Alaskan days of summer living.  I appreciate the interactive nature of beadwork – the colorful particles warming to my touch as I stitch them together one by one.  This warmth provides me with pleasure and positive feedback as the artwork is thoughtfully constructed.  I savor the peaceful, meditative process of sewing the tiny beads together even though I am often listening to loud music while I create.  I have been creating with beads for over 30 years. 

I prefer to think of myself as a conduit of creative ideas or craftsman to an artistic muse, rather than an autonomous creator.  I endeavor to trust the creative voices I hear and artistic visions that visit my dreams. I feel lucky to have been chosen as the alchemist responsible for turning the tiny colorful particles into three-dimensional art which completes the creative concept.

I enjoy the color, composition and engineering elements of making art with beads.  My most recent work integrates a diverse array of found objects and I revel in the challenge of combining diverse materials.  Turning away from making the obvious statements with the found objects I incorporate into my artwork, I aim to draw the viewer in closer – causing them to take a second contemplative look resulting in the discovery of an artful, surprising story.

My goal as an artist is striking a balance between the distinctive outward visual perspective of my art with the cogent voice of the story constructed within.

Rebecca Starry