the wave

by Barbara Bend

In her sculpture The Wave, Barbara Bend weaves together zippers, neckties, t-shirt strips, curtain samples, silk necktie fabric, a sari, buttons, and shells in a kinetic gesture of force and embrace. By turning materials that she has on hand into a physical expression of constant movement, Bend meditates on the accelerated pace of change in the world today.

In her work, Bend draws from nature and the everyday—gathering plants for natural dyes, processing sheep’s wool for creating garments, saving fabric remnants for making quilts and rugs. Each time she gains deeper appreciation for her material and the techniques she uses to transform them.