I'm Invading City College In The Fall!

(Any closer and it'll choke you out too. All pics enlarge).

Or at least my invasive vine is. I'm a bit giddy about my entry in the exhibition The Blossom of Fiber Art, scoring high enough to be included in the inaugural exhibition The City College of New York's community gallery. Ancestors!

 What Happened?

I'm fascinated by flora that we allow to take over whole landscapes and wreak havoc, because we think they're pretty.  My research of invasive species, particularly in our city parks, led me to the idea of constucting this vine. Folks love them for privacy fences and the elegant look (think ivy league) they give to buildings.  But like a jealous lover, it soon becomes dominating, wiping out its competition by snuffing their growth.

My goal? To present this piece as a fantasy vine; one that could be enjoyed without causing damage to the landscape.

How Did It Happen?

As my research ate into my creation time, I needed be able to construct the vine quickly, using both found and made elements combined with a fast, but effective method of formation. Mixed media elements were the answer, and I utilized my spinning wheel as the fastest way to permanently combine them. I am ever grateful for taking the workshop of the copiously talented Jacey Boggs, to learn the spinning techniques enabling me to create this piece. Jacey, I now think of my wheel as a vehicle for construction, as opposed to just a spinner of fiber.

 

Here is a slide show of the development of Ampelopsis Agripeta Amor "Veni, Vedi, Vici". Now this is a fantasy vine with a Latin identification I made up, but its roots are in reality.  Ampelopsis is the genus of vine. Agripeta means one who seizes land––a squatter. Amor is love. "Veni, Vedi, Vici", the common name, means I came, I saw, I conquered; apropriate, I thought for an invasive species. Enjoy!