Artist Laura Fischer creates process oriented drawings, prints and woven works incorporating patterns from quilting and textile designs.  She came to the Bay Area from Minnesota and received her MFA in New Practices from SFSU where she is now teaching weaving.

“SFO to MSP no. 9”, screen printing ink with textile adhesive and reflective glass oxide on wool with nylon embroidery

Her earlier works are wall pieces made with re-purposed Russian wool blankets.  Drawing from her printmaking background, Fischer screen printed adhesive ink onto the blankets and added reflective glass oxide, the same reflective material used in traffic lines on a road or tarmac.  Entitled “SFO to MSP” this series was in response to being homesick and flying home from the Bay Area to Minnesota.

Fischer maps out her weaving pattern on paper

Fischer’s sculptures began as a way to take her weaving off the loom and make it 3D.  She creates molds for concrete forms that can function as building sites for her weavings.  Using thread and needle she creates detailed designs from weaving pattern books and is interested in the contradiction between the rough concrete structures and the fine lines in the patterns. Her work is very process oriented, and the geometric concrete forms have evolved to facilitate her disciplined practice of production.  Lately her systematic designs have embraced more chance, and the outcomes are more abstract.  Fischer’s work will be featured in the upcoming Headland’s Center for the Arts Benefit Art Auction on June 4th.

small studies for larger works

concrete and thread sculptures

a work in progress

The view from Fischer’s studio at the Romberg Tiburon Center SFSU graduate studios