Featured Artist: Colleen Tabaika
My interest in weaving and textiles goes back to my childhood days when I learned to make tiny mats on a small, metal frame loom. I was pleased that I could make cloth by weaving over and under with my colorful loopers. Years later, after completing Education and Applied Arts degrees, I began weaving textiles for interior design in my St. Paul studio. I continue to weave over and under, arranging cotton fabric strips into color-filled rugs.
My intent is to create functional and decorative textiles which push the boundaries of traditional rug weaving. A trademark of my work is repeating and manipulating various groups of analogous colors within a piece. Thin bands of a contrasting hue break up the blended color areas. I work to create tone and value in an expressive way that resonates with me. Multi colored warp and carefully chosen fabrics form the structure of my rugs. With a weaving technique called plain weave for its inherent durability and simplicity, I can create rich combinations of texture, color and form.
~Colleen Tabaika