Artist Highlight

Growing up in upstate NY, Lori always knew she would be an artist. In 1979 she earned a BFA from Southampton College of LIU, with an independent study in printmaking. It wasn’t until 1990 that she discovered fiber and instantly fell in love with the medium. She is very diversified but is foremost a fiber artist, loving the textures and variety that fabrics offer to make up a palette. The aspect of a challenge, to change things around, to push boundaries is a constant motivation for her designs, a way to keep it unique, flowing and refreshing.

“I love to start with a pencil line, to see where it
takes me, watch it expand and travel, connect and communicate.”

An important base to all Lori’s work is an emotional
response to the developing image. What starts as a line grows structure while she asks herself: how does it make me feel, what am I trying to say, am I saying it loud enough and does that fabric read warm or cold? Answering these questions while cutting, sewing or hooking is what guides her to a finished piece layered with beautiful complexity.
Her quilted wall hangings have been exhibited across the country and her unique style of blending a multitude of printed fabrics has earned her many awards. Using scissors she cuts shapes, placing and rearranging, creating value and depth in a painterly manner that enhances her portrayal of the human figure. These narratives and portraits are eye catchers, very expressive and thought provoking.

“The wonderful thing about having art in the home is the constant pleasure and satisfaction you get on a daily basis.”

While already designing art for the wall, Lori had a
desire to take that art and make it more functional. A chance meeting with an
antique hooked rug was the catalyst. Her rug designs have flowed from intricate
detail to large flowing shapes, soft and subtle color combinations to bold and
bright ones. Her enjoyment and curiosity to explore variations in design and
color is evident.

“I make these rugs while thinking how fun it would be to design a room around them.”

The rugs are hand hooked from 100% wool fabrics. She uses both new and recycled
wools, taking advantage of finds at thrift stores. All the wool is washed and
dried with hot temperatures to “felt” it, which makes it very sturdy for hooking
into a rug. To achieve the extraordinary colors that you see in her rugs, she
takes the time to dye the fabric, exulting at the end of a dye day with the
folded piles of greens, yellows and blues designated for the next
challenge".