Cherrywood Coffeehouse: May 2021

This Imagine Art show at Cherrywood Coffeehouse marked the first time my art has been on display somewhere besides my bedroom. As you can see in the second picture, I was overcome with delight after hanging up my contribution. My piece, Springtime in the Attic, is an embroidered fabric collage that I made during the 2020-2021 AmeriCorps service year. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with my fellow service members and the artists at Imagine Art. Thank you to David for not only planning the installation of the show but also making a miniature attic for my piece to live in.

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church: June 2021

My second exhibit with Imagine Art featured pottery pieces made under the guidance of Tina from Sunset Canyon Pottery. This year, I have been experimenting with ceramic chains. Chain Sample 1 survived both kilns and can be handled by visitors looking for a tactile pottery experience. Full in Two Bites includes a set of silverware and a plate made from layered strips of clay; it sits atop a crocheted placemat made specifically for this exhibit. In the collaborative installation Artifacts from The Era of Giants, a large toothbrush and toothpaste sit on the edges of a sink constructed by David (yes, the same David who has been taking all these excellent pictures of me and my work). We teamed up to revisit the childhood magic of paper mache to cover the outside of the sink. With some finishing touches, nearly a full bathroom took shape in the gallery space of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. David suggested a photoshoot in the makeshift washroom the results of which you can see below.

All images by David Carrales Photography

Halcyon at Mueller: June 2021-August 2021

Road Trip Through the Wasteland
Yarn and woven paint swatches on wooden board fabricated by Matthew Nolt (my dad)

The most recent venue for my work is Halcyon in North Austin. Road Trip Through the Wasteland is special to me because it is one of my collaborative pieces I’ve made with my dad. We discovered the compatibility of our talents—fiber art and woodworking, respectively—in the Fall of 2017 when I asked for a 2 feet by 3 feet white board. I planned to attach brightly colored, knitted yarn rectangles with nails. Dad obliged, and a new medium stepped forward. Since then, my techniques and the boards I work with have evolved. Dad now uses unique shapes, inlays, welded sculptural elements, and stains to give each board its own personality. I work with glue, refined color schemes, finish nails, embroidery thread, and broken pottery to make each piece a mixed media extravaganza.