Pamela Penney
Outside In, 2023
Salvaged Window, Foraged Plant Materials, Wool, Cotton, Silk, Paper, Acrylic Medium 38" H x 28" W
“Outside In” shares with the world Pam’s passion for collecting natural objects while walking her two dogs. Never taking more than she needs she carefully curates objects in the wild to determine whether they have the potential for domestication. This piece incorporates some of her precious finds: twigs, seed pods, grass she turns to cordage, vines, leaves and dried flowers. Layered together they bring the outside in through an almost visual swirling breeze that weaves them all together with her handspun yarns and a transparent warp.
Pamela Penney
The Spiral Path, 2022
Salvaged Baler Twine, Salvaged Electrical Wire, Hand-spun plastic newspaper bags. 36" H x 12" W
The baler twine gifted to me from my father’s barn was the treasure I chose to center when I saw the prompt “find an object, ephemera, or textile you cherish”. The electrical wire was saved from a demolition site and the plastic bags are salvaged from the daily paper delivery. I look forward to eventually utilizing more foraged natural materials in my work, but as I continue to walk a spiral path, there will be another time come round for that opportunity.
Pamela Penney
There Must Be Some Way Outta Here: Redlining in Chicago, 2023
Paper, Wax, Thread 40" H x 14" W
We as a community will only be able to overcome our systemic issues when we address and correct the historic practices that influence our neighborhoods today. The practice of redlining from decades ago is a prime example. Redlining was the practice of banks marking with a red line the “hazardous” neighborhoods and determining them not worthy of loans. This led to Black communities missing out on owning property and accruing generational wealth after they were forced to stay in the hazardous neighborhoods, reinforcing segregation. The shadows of red-lining continue to influence and affect our blighted neighborhoods. There must be some way we can come back together to co-create and manifest an authentic community that benefits ALL.
