written in blue, by Anne Flynn

Opening reception for "written in blue," cyanotype and quilting by Anne Flynn. Exhibit runs from May 2–June 12 in the Level 4 Gallery.

Artist's Statement

The blue in my quilts is a blue burned into the fabric by the Utah sun. The alternative photography process of cyanotypes uses UV light to sear blue images into natural fibers. By coating cotton fabrics in the light-sensitive chemistry, I capture the fragments of objects and text from their shadows. The blue produced in the process sinks and folds in with the color of the original fabric. It reflects the conditions of the weather, the time and the surface that the fabric rests on as the image is exposed and the shadows made permanent.

The writing across my quilts is degraded and scrawled. These fragments reflect my anxiety, where thoughts and emotions get twisted away from clarity. Throughout my work, I explore this dissolving of form in order to create miscommunication. The process and product of cyanotypes provides partial forms that distort language perfectly. Despite a viewer's urge to read the words and expect a definite meaning, the scattered letters across my quilts deny the satisfaction of understanding.

Quilting and cyanotypes both have their own histories of storytelling. These processes have been developed for generations, capturing information, telling stories or mapping out directions. Mine are scribbly and loose, with each frayed edge and uneven stitch asserting my story through imperfection. My cyanotypes are unrefined, my quilts untrained. I taught myself these methods, fell in love with the way they combine and feed into each other. My work begins with the desire to define myself, my identity, and my emotions, the things I can’t quite say out loud.

Artist's Bio

Anne Flynn is a mixed-media artist currently working primarily with fiber techniques. She explores identity and emotion through traditional handicraft processes that are approached in an untrained and vibrant manner. Her textile works often combine quilting, embroidery, and patchwork with fiber cyanotypes to create irregular quilt-like objects.

Graduating with a BFA from Brigham Young University, Flynn is a multi-year recipient of the BYU Talent Award Grants and received two Student Show Jury Awards. In addition to her artwork, Flynn develops experimental curation in nontraditional spaces, such as the woods, playgrounds and online environments. These projects work with artists to develop art and displays that directly reflect the site they are exhibited in.

Details

• Dates: May 2–June 12
• Location: Level 4 Gallery
• Age group: All Ages
• Event type: Exhibits; Arts & Creativity