The Making of Unspoken; an art installation by Debbie Barrett-Jones

Unspoken; an art installation by Debbie Barrett-JonesOctober 7 - November 26, 2016​
First Friday Crossroads Opening October 7 and November 4, 6-9pm
Artist Reception- Saturday November 5, 3-5pm
Leedy Voulkos Art Center- Front Gallery

As our devices become more immersive, we find ourselves in an echo-chamber. Our own biases are fed to us through algorithms of likes, memes, tweets, and news stories. Instead of human connection, we bath ourselves in dopamine that never feels warm enough. Rather than the depths of our humanity, we give our attention to the litany of messages that never answer our inmost questions. This “curtain” of 32,000 pieces of yarn thrusts the viewer back into the physical world. The mirage of multi-tasking is shattered. The hand-dyed color gradation asks the viewer to let in the richness of human connection, to let stillness fall before us. The viewer's search for identifiable images or shapes is the interior search for presence.

I am working hard to get ready for my show in October. Here are some images of the progress.

Weaving During Lent for First Christian Church

Right before Easter this year I was asked to create a table runner for First Christian Church's communion table. This church in North Kansas City is special to me because the fall after graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2007, I was commissioned to create two large weaving for their sanctuary. These two pieces were created on my 45" dobby loom that I was able to purchase with the commission money that I received from Community Christian Church the summer after graduating. (Have I mentioned how much I love my AVL loom?) I really, REALLY do!! :)

Two hand-dyed, hand-woven textiles made for First Christian Church in the fall of 2007. 

Down below are all the process images I took along the way to create this piece. 

After calculating the exact amount of yarn I needed for this project, I started winding my skeins. 

Soaking skeins

Preparing my dye baths, using large plastic cups. 

Yarn skeins in their dye baths.

It takes much time to rinse all the skeins........and back breaking. 

All the rinsed skeins on the dry rack.

Winding all the yarn skeins into usable "yarn balls".

Measuring our warp on my warping board. 

Threading each piece of yarn the a dent in the reed. 

Threading my pattern. 

After all is threaded, look how beautiful the yarn looks on the loom. 

Brushing, tightening and winding the yarn on my loom. 

Weaving time.

Working with my daughter.

Hemming both ends. 

Finished and delivered in time on Good Friday.

What a joy and honor it was to create this piece especially during the Lent season. 

Artist INC Kansas City Class of Spring 2015

(Photograph came from Artist, Inc Facebook Page.)

On Monday April 27th, I finished my nine-week Artist, INC class in Kansas City. Here's what Artist INC is all about. 

"Artist INC is a cutting edge training seminar that addresses the specific business needs and challenges artists of all disciplines face every day. Limited to 25 participants per session, artists gather for one night a week for eight weeks to learn business skills specific to their art practice and apply those skills cooperatively with their peers. Using an innovative class design, artists learn and grow together through artist facilitator mentoring, small group application activities, as well as large group discussion and multi-media lecture. Now in its seventh year, the Artist INC workshop has been completed by more than 300 Kansas City artists. "

This was extremely beneficial for me in many ways. The last time I was in a classroom setting was when I was attending KCAI in 2003-2007. Most of you know that my husband and I found out we were expecting our first daughter, Cora, right before my senior year. She was born at the end of December in 2006. So when I graduated with a four month old daughter, I made a decision that I wanted to find a balance everyday to be a healthy wife, mom and an artist. It has been extremely hard sometimes but extremely rewarding at the same time. I would't have it any other way. The beauty in my children help inspire my work on a daily basis. And the balance of working when I can find time in between naps and while they are at friends and my parents house, and at night, helps me to not take studio time for granted. Owning and running my own art business can be exhausting while balancing motherhood. I am in charge of not only creating but marketing and selling my artwork. So, this class helped me in areas of my business and art that I have needed help with for years. It was a pleasure to also meet other artists and be encouraged and inspired by their stories, art, struggles and success. I will miss my Monday night classes and classmates.  

Down below are the list of artist I got to spend the last nine weeks with. 
Elaine Buss www.elainebuss.com
Morgan Cooper www.vimeo.com/cooperfilmskc
Betse Ellis www.fiddlebetse.com
Emily Evans Sloan www.images.taffyfoto.com www.traileroftruth.com
Noor Higley
Brian Huther 
Camry Ivory www.camryivory.com
Jesse Kates www.sexyaccident.com
Michael McClintock www.michaelmcclintockmusic.com
Sydney Pener www.sydneypener.com
Danielle Prestidge www.theblackbirdrevue.com
Cydney Ross www.cydneyross.com
Michael Schliefke www.schliefkevision.com
Calvin Scott www.calvinarsenia.com
Brandon Segelke www.brandonbo.com
Phil Shafer www.sikestyle.com
Anson the Ornery www.ansontheornery.com
Jen Watson www.jen-watson.com
Paul Wenske 
Casey Whittier www.caseywhittier.com
Don Wilkison 
Clarke Wyatt 
Cody Wyoming www.Philistineskc.com

The soothing sounds of weaving......Debbie Barrett-Jones Textiles

Some may find this sound annoying...... and I would totally understand that. It is not for everyone. But for me, I could fall asleep to this sound. I just might make an app for that. The soothing sounds of weaving. ;)