Tricia Stackle

My creative process starts in imagining and creating functional systems. Whether forming life-sized, 3-dimensional, interactive sculptures or creating intimate, mixed-media drawings, the process is quite similar. Inspired by Minimalism and Process Art, my work takes on a geometric, utopian aesthetic. Starting with simple circular shapes and forms, and a saturated color palette, I manipulate materials such as metal, foam, felt, thread, paper, dye and paint through laborious processes involving careful painting, cutting, gluing, dyeing and stitching. The end product, or art object, is only a fraction of the full value or expression of the work. The artwork is meant to look simple, possibly even manufactured or digitally composed in its final form. However, the more complete experience comes both in the physical creative process of my forming and in the creative process of interaction from the viewer with the artwork after it’s completion.

Tension is an unseen element in my work. A physical tension is present in the taught sutures pulling the felt fabric seams together in my sculptural forms and in the anchored threads visually connecting the colorful, collaged elements in my drawings. The tightening and relaxation of the viewer’s body as they interact with my sculptural work is also a present form of tension. There is also an emotional tension that I transfer into my artwork as I engage in constructing with a high level of precision. My artwork is meant to provide a therapeutic role in both my life as well as in the life of the viewer/collector. I can retreat to my studio and engage in my creative process as a way of taking confusing, complicated, or challenging life experiences and transforming them into colorful, playful, organized compositions. I literally and emotionally can transfer tension and stress from my body into a holding space, my artwork, where it can newly exist in the form of beauty and delight.