Krissy Ponden

I first encountered the work of Chilean-born fiber artist Carlos Bautista Biernnay at a local gallery. The piece was La Peste, part of a show commemorating the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 and the beginnings of our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. I have always been fascinated by textile art of all kinds, and I was amazed at how Carlos was able to incorporate so many different elements into his tapestries. To call Carlos a quilter would be an understatement; he also crochets, embroiders, needle-felts, and embellishes his pieces with intricate beadwork.

Connecting with the Artist
In La Peste, Carlos provides commentary on the pandemic by depicting a plague doctorʼs mask, incorporates a self-portrait that dissolves into pixels, and portrays a Dadaist universe where skeletons dance while crows lurk among f lowers in a surreal galaxy. La Peste was just one piece of art in an impressive show with a variety of compelling work, but I couldnʼt take my eyes off of it, and I knew I had to reach out to the artist.

I connected with Carlos and asked if he would be willing to come to my school as an artist-in-residence, and I was thrilled when he agreed to a six week program with my seventh and eighth-graders. Carlos and Suzanne Kachmar, the executive director of City Lights Gallery where I first saw Carlosʼs work, prepared a workshop for students in which they would create their own quilted paintings.

Artist Visits
As an introduction to the project, Carlos brought in examples of his work each week to discuss with students. He explained how he often draws inspiration from his dreams and how the Dadaist elements he includes are a reminder to laugh even in uncertain times.

Carlos was four years old on September 11, 1973, when Augusto Pinochet staged a coup in Chile. Carlos had moved to the United States and was living in New York to attend school when the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001. These dual September 11 events shape much of his work, and aspects of both events can be seen in many of his pieces.

Preview Mode - Subscribe to unlock full content