Entwined: Memory, Experience, Serendipity

Ilse Bolle’s fiber constructions are a fascinating combination of mixed media and sculpture. Bolle uses paper she makes by hand, twigs she harvests from the local landscape and waxed linen thread, which she uses to construct a simple, strong sculptural form. Found pieces of rusted metal, ubiquitous in the arroyos around Santa Fe, are then added to the composition. The juxtaposition of natural and man-made elements creates a remarkably earthy, stable beauty. At the same time, Bolle’s work maintains an aesthetic that captures and releases an emotional reaction.

Director of Art on Campus Linda Cassel said, “We’re pleased to showcase the creative work of Ilse Bolle. Her artwork invites the viewer to experience her clever artistic interplay of unconventional and traditional natural materials, which presents a refreshing illustration of conviviality and life.”

Ilse Bolle bio:

After immigrating from Germany in 1969, Ilse Bolle raised a family and continued her education at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. She achieved a BS Ed. in Art Education in 1982 and a MA in Studio Art in 1987. For 26 years, Ilse taught art in the public schools while maintaining a working studio. After she retired from teaching, she and her late husband moved to Santa Fe where she concentrates on her art full-time.

Bolle’s work was chosen for the 8th International Triennale of Tapestry in Lodz, Poland, and exhibited and collected by private and corporate collectors throughout the United States, Germany, Canada and Mexico.

Artist’s Statement:

“While growing up in rural Germany, I developed a special bond with nature. I loved creating with seedpods, tree bark, twigs, vines and grasses and, to this day, still gather most of the materials that I incorporate in my work.

Layers of handmade paper, with inclusions of textural elements, and knotted stick structures of willow and tamarisk are the bases for my fiber constructions. This process allows me to enclose space and explore the relationship between flat and curved surfaces. Process is very important to me, and I strive for simple, yet strong forms, always working with the natural color of the materials.

Paper and the process of making it has become an essential element in my work. The meshing and bonding of individual fibers create a strong yet pliable substance rich in texture. I enjoy slight, tactile imperfections and often emphasize them for their organic beauty.

Found objects in the form of rusted metal find their way into my work. I value the past and its remains, for they provide insight and context to the present and connections to the future.”

Bolle's work can also be viewed at ViVO Contemporary on Canyon Road where her work is exhibited year round.

The SFCC Visual Arts Gallery is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

IMAGE: Ilse Bolle • Healing From Within XIVIII • Handmadepaper, mixed media •

64 x 8 x 8"

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