Volunteers Make It Happen

by Mary Lane

Barbara considers all of her work to fall into series. This is because her tapestries reflect particular ideas that continue to occupy her thoughts. . . . Working in series allow an artist to consider a topic from numerous perspectives, offering a richer and more multi-faceted interpretation.The continued reflection on a particular idea often raises new questions and generates work that adds complexity to the series or, perhaps, spawns a new series.

below: Barbara Heller, Ozymandias, Part of the "Reflections" series and represents Earth in a second series.   66" x 62", photo  by Ted Clark of "Image This Photographics"

It is important to give images and ideas the time they need to develop. Consequently, the research and gestation of her designs may take months, or even years. For example, the most recent tapestry in the Cover Ups series, "The Bride," was woven a year and a half after the rest of the series. "The Bride." which presents a Western woman in a traditional wedding dress, provides a partner to "The Surgeon," the image of a Western male. Together, the two counterbalance other tapestries in the series, which contain images of non-Western people.

below: Barbara Heller, The Bride,  35" x 25"
photo  by Ted Clark of "Image This Photographics"

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