Cutting up a painting or two, rearranging the parts, and finally putting the pieces back together again to finalize an image might strike some as an odd way to make art. However, once I discovered how animated the result can be, I was excited to explore the possibilities, which continues today. Over the years my watercolor weavings have been validated by recognition in juried shows, various awards, and gallery exhibitions.
Along the way, I began to understand why I feel so comfortable with 'cutting and weaving.' It has to do with the multi layered reality of my own life. Roles as university educator, wife, mother, and working artist necessitated a blending of these respective responsibilities. Extensive preparation at Harvard and Stanford, travel with the Peace Corps and research in West Africa all contributed to teaching African and non-Western art over many decades, interleaved with raising and nurturing a family in upstate NY. The goal, of course, was a harmonious whole. Most of the time things went well, with shifts and revisions, paralleling my explorations with watercolor weaving.
Nancy Maas joined Fine Art America on November 25th, 2018.
