Judith Poxson Fawkes
The richly woven designs by Judith Poxson Fawkes are diversely influenced by a variety of patterns, such as Italian architecture, Seminole Indian patchwork, and the formal elements of abstraction. For this exhibition, Fawkes weaves stunning images inspired by the Northwest Portland neighborhood she lives in. Majestic trees and historic houses evoke memories of solace and quietude, and vulnerability against the rough realities of the world. Other tapestries that include images with water reflect a greater environmental concern. Within the context of her medium, her weaving techniques and skills allow her to define and determine shape through color. The results are shimmering forms that undulate across a field of color creating their own 3-dimensional illusion. In this series of tapestries, by combining a standing interest in formal architectural elements with further explorations of abstraction, the artist weaves a complex and haunting pictorial chronicle.
Portland artist, Judith Poxson Fawkes received her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She has exhibited her tapestries nationally since the 1960s, and her work is in numerous collections including the American Crafts Museum, NY; City of Seattle; Clark College, Vancouver, WA; Greenville County Museum of Art, SC; Knight Library, University of Oregon, Eugene; and Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. She has completed many commissions including the Aurora Municipal Center, CO; Knoxville Convention Center, TN; St. Helena Hospital, Deer Park, CA; PERS: Public Employee’s Retirement System, Portland, OR; and Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Court House, Portland, OR.