Mixed Media and Tapestry Work

"Katherine" 29.5" X 20"

I’m a mixed media artist working primarily in fiber, with a background in sculpture, 3D modeling, and digital art. My fiber practice began in 2021 with a commission for GM Design West a 12-foot by 4-foot tapestry. That experience opened a new direction, translating digital images into velvet, brocade, beads, and stitching.

For three years, chimpanzees were central to my tapestries. Inspired by the Three Wise Monkeys and “monkey see, monkey do,” "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil". I explored how we learn from one another, respond to uncertainty, and choose what to acknowledge or turn away from. Their expressions allowed me to consider human behavior with humor and compassion.

My current Visible series looks beneath the body’s outer surface. Through beadwork and velvet appliqué, I build anatomical figures piece by piece, reflecting on the structures we share and the unseen spirit within us. These questions also carry into my spiritual work, where familiar religious figures and everyday objects express my thoughts about faith, doubt, and the choices that affect our connection to the divine.

Art is how I make sense of my experiences and the world around me. Working by hand gives me time to reflect, work through difficulty, and discover something unexpected. I’m still learning and following my curiosity, creating pieces that invite others to pause, look beyond appearances, and find their own connections. My work is an expression of life as I see it, and my continuing effort to understand it.

 

"Visible Man" Glass Beads 8/0 35" x 17.5" 

"Studley" 22.75" X  22.75" Legos, Wood 

"Hope, Even Now" 32" X  37" Velvet, Batting, Cotton

 

Photo Montage.I had an idea years ago, it wasn't realized, so what you do with a thousand photographs of buttons, you make a photo montage of a chimp.  I had photographed nearly a 1000 buttons, uploaded them, stripped the backgrounds out, resized and created a png files. 

"Oracle Of Stillness" 48" X 53" Velvet, Batting, Cotton

"ZADIE" 61.5" X 40.5" Velvet, Brocade, Batting, Cotton

 

" OH MAMA" 70.5" X 58" Velvet, Brocade, Batting, Cotton

 

"CHIN UP" 58" X 54" Velvet, Batting, Cotton

    "KIKI ROSE" 51"X66.5"  Velvet, Brocade, Batting, Cotton

"MAMA’S BABY " 50" X 45"  Velvet, Brocade, Batting, Cotton

"CHIMP" 42" X 56" Velvet, Brocade, Batting, Cotton 

 

 

 

Private collection Peter and Tanya Stevenson 

"HNESNESNE" 72"X45"

  Velvet, Brocade, Batting, Cotton

"HUGO" 30 X 21.5" Velvet, Brocade, Batting, Cotton

                                 Private collection Therese Pinazzo

      "Gorilla's Baby" 79" X 55" Velvet, Brocade, Batting, Cotton 

                                    Private collection of Fabio Zambernardi

 

"MILFORD" 29.5" X 21.5" Cotton, Batting

I start with a drawing, then make a tapestry. Lately, I've been  making a 3D model of the drawing, then print it as shown. Modeled in Maya, polygonal modeling, printed and painted.  

 

"BIG BOY" 65" X 50" Cotton, Batting, Velvet

"PATCHES" 30" X 30"   Cotton, Batting

"BLUE" 29" X 29" Cotton, Batting

 

                              "FUR MONKEY " 30" X 30"

                                 Private collection of Elise Martin  

"The Chair" (Don) 28.5" X 22" Cotton, Leather, Batting, Wool

"EARL" 19" X 19" Cotton, Batting

 

"NEIL" 19" X 19" Cotton, Batting

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.

 

THE WHIMSICAL ART OF Cal Navin, Dick Cruger and Joe Jackson

 Life in retirement. Exhibition with two wonderful artist and friends at the new Design West building, GM Technical Center July 18, 2024. It was truly a pleasure to show with these two artist Dick Cruger and Joe Jackson and to see my tapestries hung for the first time. Being at the design building it wasn't open to the public, but we were able to invite a few friends. Wish many more could have come. The first exhibit in the new design building was pretty special for all of us.  Here are the photos of my work, we each got photo's of our own work, I don't have Dick or Joe's photo's to share. Enjoy, it was an honor. 

Myself and Joe Jackson 

Dick Cruger