Linda’s recent work combines stitch, lace fragments and stones to create ethereal sculptural forms. Initially inspired by plants and algae clinging to rocks by the seashore she became fascinated by how life could grow in such seemingly hostile environments. She began to make connections between these living forms in the natural world and the fragility and tenacity of human existence and how people can overcome great difficulties and survive extreme circumstances.
Her work expresses these ideas by using stones with the stitched pieces emerging or attached to them. Tension is created between the hard unyielding stone and the soft pliable textile forms. Linda’s work explores the contrasts between fragility and strength, softness and hardness and lightness and weight.
The textile pieces are created by trapping silk fibres, lace fragments, yarns and text within a web of invisible monofilament thread and embroidery thread which are machine stitched onto soluble fabric. When this is washed away it reveals what appears to be a fragile web of stitch and fragments but which actually has an inner strength.
The pieces either reach up from heavy stones to the ceiling or cling and hang down from above in 3D forms. Some heavy stones are held in suspension by the stitched work and are also weighted down by them. Other stones are enveloped or protected by the stitching. Delicate shadows are cast onto surrounding areas from the fragile stitched forms which appear to hover in space. The work investigates the interplay between form, light and shadow.
Linda produces exclusive one-off textile art pieces for exhibiting and also works to commission.
Image credits (from left): ‘Hold’ Three hanging stone and stitch sculptural forms., ‘Against all Odds’ Large stone with stitch form emerging, ‘Protect’ Stone and stitch sculptural form.