Description
Heartfelt Journey by Helene Plank
mixed media: buttons and beads hand-sewn onto canvas
20 x 20 inches
Artist Statement: My artwork has been greatly influenced by my heritage. My mother was of Italian descent, and like many of the women of her Depression Age generation, she was in possession of the traditional tin full of used buttons. The contents of this “treasure chest” grew throughout the years, and as a child, I remember playing with the buttons for hours. My mother’s sisters were professional seamstresses, so I grew up in an environment inspired by the love of sewing and all needlework.
Fast-forward to the present, and to the artwork which I now create. I have been using recycled buttons, beads and sequins, sewn onto unprimed canvas, to create my own unique mosaics. Since no glue is used in my process, the integrity of each object is preserved. I still find myself “playing with buttons” and continuing to expand my “palette” to include sewing notions, old jewelry and scrapbook items. Indeed, my mother’s old button box continues to inspire my artistic journey.
Bio: Helene Plank has produced and exhibited her artwork at Grounds for Sculpture, Phillips’ Mill, The Gallery at Mercer County Community College, Princeton Public Library, West Windsor Arts Council, The College of New Jersey, the Art and Healing Gallery at Capital Health – Hopewell, the Lawrence Branch of the Mercer County Library, and the New Jersey State Button Society. She has received several awards for her mixed media button mosaics. Her artwork is a part of the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission permanent art collection, as well as in several private art collections.
$600
Price subject to sales tax
