Artist Profile: Arlee Barr
Artist: Arlee Barr
Websites:
Albedo
Etsy shop
My mother taught me to sew when i was five, to think creatively, to use unexpected materials and methods and to follow my own rules. If they differed from everyone else’s, so much the better: the lesson was learned and the end result was what *i* had envisioned! My home ec teachers were puzzled by a child who could sew circles around them, my friends thought i was weird, but by high school i had found not only other students who boldly experimented, but two teachers who nourished our eccentric viewpoints and expressions. Just this year, i realized i’ve been sewing, designing and messing with textiles and mixed media for 4 and a half decades!
Albedo Design started out as Albedo Artclothing, a small home-based business creating wearable art. The name refers to “refracted light from a heavenly body” or glamour in the oldest sense of the word, a mysterious allure. I supported myself and my son for many years but because i was in a waterlocked area, soon saturated my market, no pun intended :}! I also needed to explore more artistic, non functional forms of art, and went back to school at 36 for a Textile Arts program in North Vancouver BC. It opened whole new vistas of opportunity and inspiration! When i discovered “the web” though, it was like finding gold. There WERE others out there that were as “weird” as i was/am!!!!
I’m lucky enough to have a whole huge studio to myself, in my home, on Vancouver Island, BC. Incredibly messy, i’m surrounded by piles of cloth and bits of paper, mark making materials and reference books. I have a 6×8foot worktable that usually has only 2 square feet clear! I’ve kept sketchbooks and visual and written journals all my life and often refer back to them for inspiration and new interpretations when i’m stumped. I save even the pieces i’m not happy with, or that i haven’t finished, and often “cannibalize” them for new works. I can’t stand distractions when i’m working, so no music in the background; i burn incense every time i’m in there, as i find that’s the only “white noise” (besides the 4 cats who parade through) that i can stand.
I’m a floral designer “by day” so a lot of organic and abstracted floral elements are evident in my work. I love the human body in all its parts and shapes as well, faces, eyes and hearts being most prevalent and important to me. I’ve learned through experimenting that amorphous blobs are not the best way to show off a technique,and that technique alone says nothing to me! I tend to gravitate to hotter, more dramatic colours. I couldn’t live without needles, thread and paint and it’s rare that there’s a day when i’m not doing *something*! I’m also blessed by/with a supportive fella, my Greyman, who isn’t threatened by my long hours in my studio!!!
As self-absorbed and egocentric as i am, i also love to teach and to share. I’ve taught classes in medieval corset making, tassels, free motion embroidery and designing bags. I like most of the things i make to be functional but often find the non-functional to be the pieces i am most proud of! Most of the shows i’ve done have been an even mix of the two.
Though i’ve lived with depression all my life, i’ve found that a good sense of the absurd, and the use of “childish” play keeps me interested in art of all forms, in all mediums. Suffering Artist Syndrome rears its head once in awhile, but the art itself usually tells the true story!
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POSTED IN: Art Quilts, Artist Profiles, Collage, Fabric & Fiber, Mixed Media
16 opinions for Artist Profile: Arlee Barr
Sequana
Feb 14, 2008 at 10:33 am
Such a great talent. I’ve known Arlee only a short time; she’s constantly amazing me.
Debe
Feb 15, 2008 at 9:58 am
Terrific interview, the pieces shown are very interesting, and I see differents THINGS when I look at them.
Good job. Thanks for sharing.
Lizbeth
Feb 15, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Great interview! What an inspiration you are to others trying to deal with depression! Your art is so multi-faceted and deep…love it!
Nellie
Feb 16, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Wonderful! Arlee and I have a cyber connection that I very much value. I greatly admire her art and creative adventures … as well as glimpses into her personal world. It’s great how cyber connections can expand and enrich each of our own little worlds.
Susan Lenz
Feb 16, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Hi!
This is a wonderful profile of a wonderful fiber artist! Thank you so much for sharing Arlee with even more of the world!
Susan
arlee
Feb 16, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Thank you Cyndi, Annie, Debe, Lizbeth and Nellie…i always feel kind of silly doing the “look at me, look at me” thing, so i really appreciate your comments and kind thoughts :}
I’m honoured also to be taking part in Susan Lenz’s Cybre Fybre show at the gallery in Jan of 2009–two of my pieces will be there (and Nellie is one of my “Corpse Mistresses” on the Exquisite Corpse piece that will be one of them!), as well as some of my ATCS for the Random Trade Day.
Val Foster
Feb 17, 2008 at 1:49 pm
This is a very interesting profile, and your art is so beautiful and dramatic. I’d also love to see your studio. Well done, and kudos to you, Arlee.
Emmy
Feb 18, 2008 at 3:07 pm
this is a great profile and as always your art is so special you are a great fiber artist and a wonderful woman
warm regards Emmy
Sarah E.
Feb 28, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Congratulations, Arlee, for a great write-up and a wonderful piece of sharing. I am always so excited for you and about your work!
Arlee
Mar 18, 2008 at 5:41 pm
hi! my name is Arlee and i thought it kind of funny that i want to be an artist when i grow up. i think your art is beautiful. i’ve never known of having the same name as anyone else before. that’s really cool!
Cyndi
Mar 18, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hi Arlee! I think that’s great that you found this profile. I hope you will be able to follow your dreams :-)
arlee
Mar 18, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Me too, as the first “arlee” :} And i’ve never met anyone else with the name either, but have seen it of course :}
June from Video Scrapbook Tutorials
Jul 15, 2008 at 10:01 am
You do beautiful, beautiful work Arlee. Your art ranges over such a wide variety of media. You are very talented.
Fiber Arts/Mixed Media group at Ning
Jul 23, 2008 at 8:02 am
[…] be interested in: Fiber Arts/Mixed Media. I recognized many names and faces over there, including Arlee Barr, who wrote an artist profile for Layers Upon Layers awhile […]
Carol Wiebe
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:43 am
Tassels! I LOVE tassels: and Exquisite Corpses is such an intriguing title. I’d love to hear the thinking behind that one.
June Campbell from Scrapping by Design
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Arlee’s work is remarkable. I absolutely love her designs. My fav is the first one with the woman’s shape. Well done!
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