Debra Smith's first solo exhibition at the gallery was comprised of nine
collages made from antique silk kimono linings and other vintage silks.
These fabric collages have the quality of calligraphic drawings- both gestural
and graphic. Smith's use of vintage textiles conveys the warmth and aura
inherent to materials that have their own history. She likens the artistic
results to drawing with cloth, which results in a subtle poetry not unlike
unexpected variations that occur when attempting to translate one language
to another. The markings range from acidic reds (specific to Japanese textiles
and specifically the lining of men’s kimonos) to pale shades of white with
subtly varying hues. Debra Smith was born in Hannibal, Missouri and currently
works and resides in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from the Kansas
City Art Institute with a B.F.A in textiles and later received an Associate
Degree in Applied Science from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She
recently returned to the Midwest after almost living a decade in Brooklyn,
New York.
Textile Collages 2008 [view
images]