Kristen Kaas weaves natural and synthetic fibers to create unique contemporary wall hangings, wearable accessories, and fiber sculptures. Her three-dimensional structures in crisp white and subtle shimmer contrast against bold darks and lines of black. Within pockets woven from cotton, linen, and silk are secrets to be discovered. Milkweed floss, eggshells, and concord grapes are concealed behind cloth, yet simultaneously revealed between the threads. Kaas asks: what pieces of ourselves do we choose to expose? What elements of our identities do we hold close, keeping hidden from our public personas? With filters and poses, we consume and share unrealistic curated images of ourselves and each other. In turn, we shelter our true realities from one another.
Image Credit: Kristen Kaas, “Emanate,” linen, silk, paper, polyethyline, 2021
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant
from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation
from the arts and cultural heritage fund.