/Christopher King
@kingchrisg
Christopher King
Containers and Tile
watercolor on paper
9” x 9”
2024
I take a yoga class that includes painting with watercolors intermittently through the workout. The instructor, Polly Hensel, calls this practice YogArte. Inspired by and intrigued with this art form, I began practicing watercolor painting on my own. I now take a watercolor techniques class at Worcester Center for Crafts with Kat O’Connor as instructor. This piece, “Containers and Tile,” is a still life with white objects created during class time.
@kingchrisg
Christopher King
Large Woven Panel #2
Inspired by: Unknown artist, Tapa Cloth John Willis, Recycled Realities 1 Evelyn Rydz, Gulf Pile
flat wool braid and round polyester rope weaving
less than 36″ x 36″ x 90″ in volume
2023
I upcycle textile waste into custom fabric, clothing, blankets, sound absorbing panels, and hammocks, using input material otherwise destined for the landfill. Large Woven Panel #2 is made from polyester upholstery fabric edge trim and the remnants of a braided wool rug. This panel, suspended, creates a two person hammock, giving a useful and valued second life to manufacturing byproduct and bulky household waste. This piece joins Gulf Pile and Recycled Realities #1 in a global effort to raise environmental awareness and serves as a local example of how waste materials can be made useful. As a finished product, Large Woven Panel #2 is similar to a hand knitted blanket from a grandparent. Initially warmed by the gift, later in life the grandchild is embraced by the memory of the grandparent when wrapped in the blanket. This blanket becomes a family treasure and heirloom, similar to the Tapa Cloth.
@kingchrisg
Christopher King
American Hubcap
Up-cycled textile rope woven on found plastic hubcap
17” x 2.5”
2023
American Hubcap is an experiment in converting landfill-bound textile waste and “found on the side of the road” hubcaps that are not objects of interest by weaving multicolored rope between hubcap spokes. I draw a white star in a blue, then red field. The red rope appears in 13 lengths as in circle of stars representing the original states. American Hubcap is a prototype created in preparation for the 2023 Art in the Park installation, Woven Hubcaps, at Elm Park in Worcester, MA.
@kingchrisg
Christopher King
Cherry Stick Mobile
cherry tree sticks tied with half knots in waxed black cotton cord
10” x 10” x 1/2”
2022
Trimming trees around a home in the city necessary to keep from becoming overgrown, happily yields fresh supplies for weft in woven and macrame mobiles. The rich bark color of the cherry tree inspired me to create this piece, reminiscent of the Mandarin character for beauty.
@kingchrisg
Christopher King
Woven Circular Net
upcycled polyester fabric strips
48” x 25”
2023
This work is a triple thickness, continuous, circular net, woven with polyester rope up-cycled from excess upholstery fabric cut into strip. The displayed form indicates the intended end use as apparel.
@kingchrisg
Christopher King
General Utility Non-Theorizing Environmental Control Pullover
woven fabric twine and cotton yarn
22″ long x 36″ wide x 7″ thick
2022
I experiment with up cycling materials into artwork, clothing, and sculpture. I use polyester and non-woven textile waste torn into long strips, twisted into twine, then woven with cotton yarn to form thick, flexible, and unique fabrics. These fabrics are hand sewn with twine joining selvedge loops to form this comfortable pullover. To me, the arms are reminiscent of those of The Robot in the 1960’s television series, Lost In Space, thus, the title of this work.
@kingchrisg
Christopher King
Raspberry Chenille/Macrame Button Drizzle
Inspired by: David Seltzer, Sea Salt/Lemon Sage
macrame with nylon cord and buttons attached to a woven rayon chenille panel
25” x 12”
2024
I am inspired to make “tasty art” by Sea Salt/Lemon Sage, “… inviting the viewer to yield to sensory stimulation …” From secondhand, stash-house chenille yarn, I found a thick, sherbet raspberry weft and wove it into a multicolored warp to create the base layer. I decorated with two strands of macrame button drizzle, one with a spiraling half knot, the other with a four strand braid, both with inherited buttons. A dragon shape can be seen in some orientations. Functionally a table runner, this weaving brings joy to the table, inviting the diner to sample visually and through touch.
@kingchrisg