A lifelong artisan,
multiple degree-holder, teacher and museum
administrator, Suzanne Warner's chosen craft
for the past twenty years has been bead weaving. She creates her own style, weaving without a pattern, allowing the colors to guide her as the piece comes to life.
"Beads, buttons, fabric and small treasures
have always held a special fascination for
me," she explains. While living in Hawaii
she learned the delicate art of shell weaving
and later translated the skill of working
with tiny shells to working with European
glass seed beads and Japanese Myuki Delica glass cylinder beads. Today she credits her
teacher, a full-blood Hawaiian woman from
the island of Ni' ihau who spoke no English,
as a major influence on her art. Suzanne's
artistic inspiration comes "from the
patterns, textures, and colors found in nature,"
she says. "The beaded amulet purses take
from 40 to 200 hours to complete. I figure
I have at least four heartbeats in every bead
I use. I approach the work with the idea of
making an heirloom, something that will be
eternally provocative."
The Big Horn Galleries is proud to carry several unique
pieces by Suzanne M. M. Warner.
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