About
Concepts and ideas are what drive my creative work, whether I am making visual art or writing. I require a narrative or an idea upon which to hang the aesthetics. That’s one reason I was initially drawn to collage, with its startling power to illustrate the intangible. Collage allows me to give important elements their due, excise the insignificant, and re-create the world according to my own vision. I use fragments to create a whole, solid, and honest picture of the world.
While I still work with the stitched textile collage medium, a shift has caused me to look at other ways to express ideas. That modulation has led me to investigate sculptural forms, specifically those based on garments. Conceptualizing the Kevlar Kimono, with its many layers of meaning and controversial subject matter, was the first indication that I needed to defect – at least for a time – from collage. The ideas behind that piece were simply too big to be contained in a small framed artwork.
Whatever the topic and form of my work, I’m looking to ground those abstract ideas in the senses, giving the viewer enough clues within my work to expose him or her to an idea, or recall an experience or memory, much like a childhood matching game. Not everyone will take the time to look closely and understand, but those are the artworks I seek to create and to view.
— Darcy Falk
Bio
Since 1984, Darcy Falk as been creating original artworks from textiles, using a wide variety of techniques, including a full range of surface design processes, including dyeing, painting, and embellishing.
Her work has been included in national and regional juried and invitational exhibits in New Mexico, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Colorado, Oregon, California, extensively throughout the state of Arizona, including at the Coconino Center for the Arts (Flagstaff), Tohono Chul Park (Tucson), and Sky Harbor International Airport and in international exhibits in Japan, Europe and Australia. She recently exhibited her work at the Visions Art Museum in San Diego.
She has written an ongoing column of personal essays for Flagstaff Live! since 2008 and has had work published in a number of books and magazines, including Color and Composition for the Creative Quilter, Fiberarts Magazine, Surface Design Magazine, Art/Quilt Magazine, Threads, and Imagery on Fabric.
Public commissions include work created for the Northern Arizona Book Festival, North Country Healthcare, the Taylor House, and the HALO House (all located in Flagstaff).
She also teaches occasional workshops and opens her workspace to the public. Darcy makes her home in Flagstaff, Arizona, with her brilliant and talented mathematician husband, Michael. Click here to view Darcy’s resume in PDF format.
Professional Affiliations
Art 35° North, juried member
Flagstaff Cultural Partners, treasurer & board member 2006-2012
Artists’ Coalition of Flagstaff, founding member / former board member
Surface Design Association, member
Lectures, Readings & Workshops
“Old Fabric/New Media,” workshop taught at various venues since 2003
Invited author presentation/reading (personal essays and poetry), Northern Arizona Book Festival, 2004 and 2012, and fundraising readings with Letters from Home columnists in 2010 & 2011
“The Interrupted Life,” a slide talk about my artwork and its development over the years.
“Listen to Your Broccoli,” workshop on technique and the creative process, taught at Coconino Community College, Fall 2001 and Spring 2002.
Guest Artist Lecture, sponsored by Northern Arizona University Museum and Galleries, July 19, 1997, in conjunction with exhibits Hanging by a Threadand That’s Not a Real Quilt.
Flagstaff Leadership Program presentations and hands-on workshops, 1995 to present.
Publications
Flagstaff Live! Letters from Home columnist, ongoing since 2008
Fiberarts Magazine, Summer 04 issue, article about Wendy Huhn’s mixed media textiles
Contemporary Quilts, Quilt National ‘03, published by Lark Books
Surface Design Magazine, Volume 26, No. 2, Review of Material Essence exhibit by Anthony Flesch
Art/Quilt Magazine, Issue #12, New/Works
Creative Collage, Katherine Aimone, published by Lark Books
Contemporary Quilts, Quilt National ‘97, published by Lark Books
Art/Quilt Magazine, Issue #9, New/Works
Art/Quilt Magazine, Issue #7, “Mentoring”
Threads Magazine, December 1996/January 1997, “The Boxer Rebellion”
Imagery on Fabric, Surface design on fabric, 2nd edition, book by Jean Ray Laury
Various columns and articles from 1998 through 2003 in Flagstaff Live!, weekly arts and entertainment publication
Public Commissions
Poster art, “Blossom,” created for the Northern Arizona Book Festival 2013.
Cover art, “Bountiful Harvest,” for Letter from Home, CD by cowboy poet, singer, songwriter Tony Norris
Poster art, “Metaphor,” created for the Northern Arizona Book Festival 2001.
Artworks created for donor recognition wall in Taylor House, hospitality house for Flagstaff Medical Center, 1999-2004.
Artwork, “Refuge,” for lobby of HALO House, shelter for victims of domestic violence in Flagstaff, AZ.
Artwork, “Celebrate Flagstaff,” created for Celebrate Southside Festival, in collaboration with children and adult volunteer quilt makers.
Public Collections
North Country Healthcare, Flagstaff, AZ
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Permanent collection, Phoenix, AZ
Sheraton Downtown Phoenix Hotel, Phoenix, AZ
Westin Kierland Resort, Scottsdale, AZ
Hyatt Hill Country, San Antonio, TX
Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
Merg and Anderson, Madison, WI
Additional works in private collections.