Jay Rich
I grew up in a North Dakota village where everyone knew everyone, and community took care of community. The harsh climate forced me to study our natural world. I saw beauty, design, and scientific questions. Cold winters pushed me indoors and I learned all the textile techniques to create textures and patterns. This handwork has been a lifelong source of creative expression and meditative calming. Big ideas have always been studying and listening, writing and making, learning and sharing. I have identified three inspiring textile artists: Anni Albers, Louise Bourgeois and Olga de Amaral. Their creative processes and experimentation are worth a deep dive to help me explore my own creativity. I’ll use this block of time for reflection, replication and exploration uncovering their mysteries and my own. I hope to find more bridges between science, art, and creative beauty.