GENERAL MOTORS NEW DESIGN WEST BUILDING COMMISSION WORK

There have been a few times in my life which I’ve been so honored and proud, it’s almost hard for me to put into words. This is one of those times. Many of you know I spent 42 years at GM, 22 years with Design Staff. I’m beyond grateful and so thankful to have been a part of the General Motors Design West, new building art project. A special thanks and gratitude to Michael Simcoe senior VP Design for selecting me, trusting me and supporting my creative vision. A huge shout out to the fabrication team, the wood shop, trim shop and paint shop and all the project coordinators. To Natalie Morath and Christoper Webb and the many others that saw this project through completion. I’m truly humbled. I have always loved and been proud to have worked for such a company that only helped one realize their dreams, and I’ve had many realized, I had the best career anyone could have asked for.
The pieces I share with you are two 28’ x 8’ wall installations. Titled, “ GM BLUES”, “COLOR MY DAY” . I designed both walls in Alias, and chose the color palette. The paint I chose is car urethane with a clear coat over that. The next piece was a dream for me as I was able to collaborated with my sister Liz Matthew’s and my brother Frank Navin, a 12’ X 4’ front and back tapestry titled “ STRATUM” which truly was a labor of love for all of us. I also left behind two murals for the design center parking garage. I am truly blessed to leave these pieces of me in a place I loved so much.

 

Textiles and Tapestry Work

"Katherine" 29.5" X 20"

 Over the last couple of years I had the honor of being among sixteen artist that were commissioned to make art for the new GM design building. The work I did for the building was two 28' X 8 ' wall installations, and a 12' X 4' front and back hanging tapestry.  After two years of working on the tapestry it solidified for me  a love of textile work and has sent me in new directions artistically. After I finished the tapestry for GM, I took an online class on portrait quilting. Here's where it all began and I have to say, I really love working in fiber. My current work is large scale tapestries of Monkeys and gorillas. The underlying theme being Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil, Monkey see, monkey do. Which translates to live without judgement, stay away from negativity in the world, and speak kindly of one another, and most important lead by example. My work has always had a symbolic aspect to it, where I learn a lot about my own psychology and the world around me.

"Mama's Baby" 50" X 45"

"Chimp" 42" X 56

"HNESNESNE" 72" X 45"

    "Patch" 29" X 31.5"

"Blue" 29" X 29"

 

 "Big Boy" 54" X 66.5"

 

                                              "Fur Monkey" 30" X 30"

"The Chair" (Don)  28.5" X 22"

"Earl" 19" X 19" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Neil" 19" X 19"

The playful and mischievous monkey, embodies the spirit of joy, curiosity, and the art of finding delight in the simplest of moments.

This is a series I've been working on for some time now, making tapestries of chimpanzees, monkeys and gorillas. Without any specifics, the monkey, the gorilla has a symbolic meaning to me. When I was young, during a dark period in my life, some friends had given me a stuffed gorilla. Seems strange, but it saved my life at that time. In the Chinese zodiac my spirit animal is a monkey, I also want to say in my work, (monkey see, monkey do)  I'd like to act accordingly, to model the person I wish to be. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil means to me to be less judgemental, not to listen to negativity, not to be witness to it, speak kindly and less often. In a world where there is so much instability, and change, I need something that keeps me balanced, and free of fear. To rediscover the spirit of the monkey. To embody the spirit and the joy again in my life. Along with the tapestry work I'm exploring a 3D world modeling and 3D printing.

                              Work in progress, a whole new world. 

I just picked up some 3D prints of my prayer monkey series. I'm exploring 3D and printing and learning as I go. Lot's to learn on this journey, not sure exactly where it will take me, but I do have some images in my minds eye of a little world that shows the spirit of the monkey.                                                

                                             Prayer Monkey 6

       

                                            First 3D Prints    

        

    Prayer Monkey 3

        

 Prayer Monkey 2

       r

 Prayer Monkey1

     

"Henry"

Yo, You want to see something cool? No, 

Well, I'm gonna do it anyway.........