Artist’s Profile
Using off-loom bead weaving techniques Wendy Seaward composes intricate sculptural works out of the finest materials including Japanese glass seed beads, semiprecious stones, crystals, freshwater pearls, fossils, found objects, and nymo thread. While living in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer she was inspired by the dynamic beadwork of the Ndbele, Swazi, Zulu, Xhosa and Basotho cultures. With a degree in horticulture and a passionate interest in sustainable agriculture and the environment, natural forms are lovingly imbued in her work, evident especially in her freeform pieces, which may feature spirals, curls, droplets, openings and other forms found in nature. Wendy has received wide acclaim for her highly elaborate beaded masks. They are exotic in appearance and are manifestations of her inner psyche, therapeutic anointings of self reflection.
Wendy’s art has been featured in several publications including, Beadwork magazine and many periodicals. Wendy has given seminars and talks on her unique style of intuitive bead weavings and has been invited to give studio tours.
Wendy, well known in the Knoxville area, has won numerous awards in fine craft shows as well as art exhibits, and galleries. She exhibits in juried shows in the Southeast and has been Featured Artist for the Art Market Gallery in Knoxville, TN and The Upstairs Gallery in Oak Ridge, TN. Wendy was also Artist of the Month for the Arts Alliance of Greater Knoxville in collaboration with the Knoxville Museum of Art. Home Garden Television (HGTV) will be airing a segment on Wendy and her work in Fall 2001.
Wendy is a member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, the Foothills Craft Guild (Standards Committee/Juror), The Art Market Gallery (Board Member/Juror), A-1LabArts, the Kaleidoscope artist’s collective, The Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville, and the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists. Her latest exhibits include Transparent Things at the Clarksville Museum of Art, TN, The Artfest Juried Art Show for The Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville, Women’s Work at the Oak Ridge Museum of Art, and Metal, Glass, and Stone -- an Exhibit of Contemporary Jewelry at the Art Market Gallery.
Artist's Statement
My edges are uneven, I am not perfect. I embrace the beauty of imperfection. In many cultures throughout the world it is considered a sign of humility to leave one element of a work imprecise. Absolute perfection is the realm of the creator. In weaving, a straight, even edge is often considered the thing to strive for. I enjoy playing with the accidental.
Some of my pieces revolve around accidents. As a child I watched my grandmother demonstrate intuitive painting to her students. She would close her eyes and scribble all over the canvas and then spend the next several hours coaxing forms and images out of the tangle. Using sculptural techniques of bead weaving, I create freeform shapes and textures out of tangles of beads and threads.
Wendy Seaward
E-mail: WSeaward99@aol.com
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