Artist Profile: Arlee Barr
February 14, 2008 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Home & Living
Artist: Arlee Barr
Websites:
Albedo
Etsy shop
My mother taught me to sew when i was five, to think creatively, to use unexpected materials and methods and to follow my own rules. If they differed from everyone else’s, so much the better: the lesson was learned and the end result was what *i* had envisioned! My home ec teachers were puzzled by a child who could sew circles around them, my friends thought i was weird, but by high school i had found not only other students who boldly experimented, but two teachers who nourished our eccentric viewpoints and expressions. Just this year, i realized i’ve been sewing, designing and messing with textiles and mixed media for 4 and a half decades!
Albedo Design started out as Albedo Artclothing, a small home-based business creating wearable art. The name refers to “refracted light from a heavenly body” or glamour in the oldest sense of the word, a mysterious allure. I supported myself and my son for many years but because i was in a waterlocked area, soon saturated my market, no pun intended :}! I also needed to explore more artistic, non functional forms of art, and went back to school at 36 for a Textile Arts program in North Vancouver BC. It opened whole new vistas of opportunity and inspiration! When i discovered “the web” though, it was like finding gold. There WERE others out there that were as “weird” as i was/am!!!!
I’m lucky enough to have a whole huge studio to myself, in my home, on Vancouver Island, BC. Incredibly messy, i’m surrounded by piles of cloth and bits of paper, mark making materials and reference books. I have a 6×8foot worktable that usually has only 2 square feet clear! I’ve kept sketchbooks and visual and written journals all my life and often refer back to them for inspiration and new interpretations when i’m stumped. I save even the pieces i’m not happy with, or that i haven’t finished, and often “cannibalize” them for new works. I can’t stand distractions when i’m working, so no music in the background; i burn incense every time i’m in there, as i find that’s the only “white noise” (besides the 4 cats who parade through) that i can stand.
I’m a floral designer “by day” so a lot of organic and abstracted floral elements are evident in my work. I love the human body in all its parts and shapes as well, faces, eyes and hearts being most prevalent and important to me. I’ve learned through experimenting that amorphous blobs are not the best way to show off a technique,and that technique alone says nothing to me! I tend to gravitate to hotter, more dramatic colours. I couldn’t live without needles, thread and paint and it’s rare that there’s a day when i’m not doing *something*! I’m also blessed by/with a supportive fella, my Greyman, who isn’t threatened by my long hours in my studio!!!
As self-absorbed and egocentric as i am, i also love to teach and to share. I’ve taught classes in medieval corset making, tassels, free motion embroidery and designing bags. I like most of the things i make to be functional but often find the non-functional to be the pieces i am most proud of! Most of the shows i’ve done have been an even mix of the two.
Though i’ve lived with depression all my life, i’ve found that a good sense of the absurd, and the use of “childish” play keeps me interested in art of all forms, in all mediums. Suffering Artist Syndrome rears its head once in awhile, but the art itself usually tells the true story!
Such a great talent. I’ve known Arlee only a short time; she’s constantly amazing me.
Terrific interview, the pieces shown are very interesting, and I see differents THINGS when I look at them.
Good job. Thanks for sharing.
Great interview! What an inspiration you are to others trying to deal with depression! Your art is so multi-faceted and deep…love it!
Wonderful! Arlee and I have a cyber connection that I very much value. I greatly admire her art and creative adventures … as well as glimpses into her personal world. It’s great how cyber connections can expand and enrich each of our own little worlds.
Hi!
This is a wonderful profile of a wonderful fiber artist! Thank you so much for sharing Arlee with even more of the world!
Susan
Thank you Cyndi, Annie, Debe, Lizbeth and Nellie…i always feel kind of silly doing the “look at me, look at me” thing, so i really appreciate your comments and kind thoughts :}
I’m honoured also to be taking part in Susan Lenz’s Cybre Fybre show at the gallery in Jan of 2009–two of my pieces will be there (and Nellie is one of my “Corpse Mistresses” on the Exquisite Corpse piece that will be one of them!), as well as some of my ATCS for the Random Trade Day.
This is a very interesting profile, and your art is so beautiful and dramatic. I’d also love to see your studio. Well done, and kudos to you, Arlee.
this is a great profile and as always your art is so special you are a great fiber artist and a wonderful woman
warm regards Emmy
Congratulations, Arlee, for a great write-up and a wonderful piece of sharing. I am always so excited for you and about your work!
hi! my name is Arlee and i thought it kind of funny that i want to be an artist when i grow up. i think your art is beautiful. i’ve never known of having the same name as anyone else before. that’s really cool!
Hi Arlee! I think that’s great that you found this profile. I hope you will be able to follow your dreams
Me too, as the first “arlee” :} And i’ve never met anyone else with the name either, but have seen it of course :}
You do beautiful, beautiful work Arlee. Your art ranges over such a wide variety of media. You are very talented.
Tassels! I LOVE tassels: and Exquisite Corpses is such an intriguing title. I’d love to hear the thinking behind that one.
Arlee’s work is remarkable. I absolutely love her designs. My fav is the first one with the woman’s shape. Well done!