Commissioned by Charlotte Gateway Village (Bank of America), West 5th Street, Charlotte, NC

“…and the earth was wild with leaves” (2000)

Seven panels, each 9′ high × 4′ wide; Dyed, screen printed, painted, appliqued, and stitched cotton, silk, rayon, and synthetic metallic fabrics.

The work suggests and incorporates the natural textures and patterns of North Carolina woodlands, in ecstatic colors.  Each of the seven panels consists of two layers of fabric joined by the stitched appliqué of small pieces to the surface. The foundation fabric was heavy cotton twill, which was hand-printed in three colors using screen imagery based on actual photographs of pine needles and tree bark.  The top fabric was hand-dyed and hand-printed silk organza, whose semi-tranparency allowed the foundation’s printed imagery to be seen through it. The cotton and silk layers were then joined together with thousands of slender willow oak leaf shapes cut from silk, rayon, and metallic fabrics. The leaf shapes sparkle and “float,” and the contrasting turquoise arc parallels the movement of people through this office building lobby, up and down the stairs, in and out of the doors.

“…and the earth was wild with leaves” (2000) (photo: Michael O’Neill)

Sketches on architectural drawing

Detail #1

Detail #2