Arteles Catalogue 2023-2020

Silence Awareness Existence program / MARCH 2020
Shana Kohnstamm
USA
www.shanakohnstamm.com
About
Blurring the boundaries between fine art and high craft,
I create soft sculptures that are both familiar and strange,
whimsical and dangerous, utilitarian and decorative. My
fascination with wool as a medium drives me to push the
boundaries of what is expected of textile and fiber art, and
my joy of experimentation translates to the artwork I create.
In the Bubble
One of the most stimulating and transformational experiences
of my adult life, the Silence Awareness Existence residency
provided me with a rich entry point into global empathy,
a renewed mindfulness practice, and elevated studio
productivity... all tools needed for this shift in our fragile
reality.
My studio practice was surprisingly fruitful, with the easy
camaraderie of shared workspace and a joyousness for the
exploration of my medium. Utilizing local Finnish wool for
my projects made the work even more poignant, as I took
inspiration from the forest floor as well as meditational
imagery.
The lack of “everyday distractions” gave me room not only
to explore and experiment in my studio, but also to read
and ingest some hefty spiritual guidance, strengthen my
meditation practice, and ultimately bask in the sweet silence
of a like-minded community.
Although cut short due to the pandemic, the time spent in
our peaceful forest bubble (while the rest of the world was
ramping up in panic) was ultimately a bountiful present/
presence, which I’m certain to be unpacking for years to
come.