Dale Brock and Visiting Angels Gallery - Tension of Connection
Exhibition on Display: March 3 - April 1, 2023 | Works by Sarita Westrup
North Texas-based artist Sarita Westrup (Rio Grande South Texas, born 1989) is
known for her graphic handwoven wall sculptures that suggest tunnel-like forms of
movement with moments of concealment. A self proclaimed craft based artist, Sarita
weaves her sculptures by hand, taking singular strands of reed and twining them
together. She first methodically maps out the form and integrates woven wedges to
create three dimensional undulating contours. Sometimes she forces straight woven
tubes into curved shapes creating waves in the work caused by tension within the
woven structure. She then rubs the sculptures with mortar to harden the forms and
create textures similar to cement. Finally the sculptures are spray painted and
dusted with layers of graphite to achieve a slight metallic quality. Materials
such as wire and ixtle are occasionally combined adding energetic marks and textures
within these looping icons referencing movement, migration, borders, and the non-linear
route life often takes. Sarita's process often begins with drawing her ideas for
sculptures in her sketchbook and on butcher paper using black and white acrylic
paints. She then uses the drawings as a reference while weaving.
In the installation of the works, one encounters intimate fences made from cement
covered nets, shadowy loops, fuschia inks, wire wrapped plant fiber, painted
creature-like rocks connected by curves, twisted infinity forms, and knotted
construction twine. All these works are connected by the artist's curiosity in
contact and boundaries. The overall monochromatic color palette of The Tension of
Connection, with flat cement greys, matte blacks, and dried wheat colored ixile is
a translated memory of international Texas-Mexico border checkpoints that the artist
walked by foot and by car while growing up. The palette momentarily is disrupted by
the flash of bodily cochineal pink watercolor paintings and hot pink twine suggesting
a sense of alertness. The colors and textures recall the anxiety and excitement of
transitioning from one country to the other. This exhibition is a glimpse inside the
artist's work and process during her past year as Emerging Artist in Residence of Arts
Fort Worth for 2022.
ARTIST BIO
Sarita is a craft based artist and art educator of mixed Mexican descent living in
Dallas, TX. Rooted in weaving techniques and bricolage, her sculptural basketry works
are inspired by where she was born and raised, the Rio Grande Valley on the Texas -
Mexico border. She received her MFA in Fiber arts from the University of North Texas
in 2012. Most recently her work has been shown in "Materials Hards and Soft" at
Greater Denton Arts Council in Denton, TX and in "Staked Out" at Blue Spiral 1
Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina. This past summer she was accepted into the
2022 American Craft Council Emerging Artists Cohort receiving a $10,000
accelerator grant. This summer of 2023 she will be teaching sculptural basket
techniques at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina and the National Basketry
Organization Conference in Tacoma, Washington. Visit www.saritawestrup.art .
ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ART
The mission of Arts Fort Worth, formerly known as the Fort Worth Community Arts Center,
is to provide a quality event, visual and performing arts venue for all of the community.
This historic and dynamic arts complex boasts seven indoor galleries, an outdoor gallery,
artist and performance studios, and office suites nonprofit arts organization, is managed
by Arts Fort Worth on behalf of the City of Fort Worth.
Arts Fort Worth also provides educational programming, promotes experienced and emerging
artists. Arts Fort Worth's three theater spaces hosts a wide-range of performances by
local and nationally known artists and organizations- the Hardy and Betty Sanders black
box theater, the traditional William Edrington Scott Theatre, and The Vault, which hosts
Fort Worth Fringe acts.
HISTORY
Located at 1300 Gendy Street, Arts Fort Worth is part of the most architecturally
significant museum districts in the United States. The striking modern Herbert Bayer
building (with a later O'Neil Ford addition) opened to the public in 1954 as home to one
of the most prestigious and oldest collecting organizations in the state of Texas, the
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. When, in 2002, the Modern moved down the street, the Fort
Worth Community Arts Center opened. Now known as Arts Fort Worth, the building continues to
exhibit world class art and support the performing arts for more than half a century.
LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE SPACE FOR YOUR EVENT?
Arts Fort Worth provides versatile spaces to meet a variety of rental needs. Whether you
require well-lit exhibition areas, unique rooms for meetings, special events, or the
comforts of an accessible, professional-quality performance venue, this dynamic arts
complex includes the black box Hardy and Betty Sanders Theatre, the William Edrington
Scott Theatre, which seats 498 guests, seven galleries, and studio and office spaces,
including a conference room overlooking the Cultural District towards downtown. These
spaces are adaptable to a wide range of uses, including conventions, special events,
weddings, workshops, and theater productions. If you're interested in more details
contact us!
