Nan Salky: Woolgathering

Bugs in Bed

Gallery Hours: 11am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday

An exhibition of artwork by Nan Salky, aptly entitled WOOLGATHERING is showing in the East Gallery during the month of March. "My mother kept me in fat crayons until I was nine." Nan Salky recalls, "In my early attempt to achieve the deepest possible saturation of color, these lovely thin Crayolas never lasted long."

Salky has spent 25 years as a psychotherapist. During this time her artwork has been an escape from the stresses of her career, although until recently she had no desire to display it publically. But as her studio filled with creations, they seemed ready to be shared. She speaks of the work today as "children kept at home too long, now ready to face a wider world."

Salky studied Children's book writing and illustration at the University of Colorado where she specialized in psychology and art. For twenty years she painted using brushes before rediscovering her love of crayons in the form of oil sticks. Inspiration struck when she began to deconstruct wool sweaters—washing, drying, and cutting them into pieces. "I lost sleep dreaming of the possibilities." Salky remembers.

At the same time she had become interested in using antique printers' cases. The neat compartments of the boxes lent order and structure to the bright hues and fibrous textures of her reclaimed sweaters. This marriage of unconventional materials (sweaters, buttons, thread, and watch parts) that had kept Salky awake at night became WOOLGATHERING.