When I first remember the idea being thrown around that someday we’d have little to no print, that being a world where we’d be able to transmit all of our ideas digitally, I remember the word being “awesome!” there’ll be no waste! Right? Do you remember having this conversation with everyone? No need to waste ink, just use your computer to get all your info, save the world! But now we’re getting there. We’re maybe even within reaching space of eliminating paper and print in a major way, but wait! says we, wait a second! What about making posters and handbills, what about the neatness of having a piece of print in your hands? And what about all those hockey cards?

Artist Laren DiCioccio addresses this all in a big handful of teeny, tiny swoops with her extended “sewn” works.

Your brain will benefit from a read of DiCioccio’s artist statement:

My work investigates the physical/tangible beauty of commonplace mass-produced media-objects, most recently: the newspaper, magazines, office papers and writing pads, plastic bags, 35 mm slides. These media are becoming obsolete, replaced by the invisible efficiency of various technologies. In some cases, this transition is a good thing- faster transmission and distribution of information, streamlined systems, openness to user input, less waste. But a hole is left behind by the disappearance of these everyday objects. What will happen when we no longer touch information? When newsprint does not rub off onto our fingertips? When we no longer write longhand?

The tedious handiwork and obsessive care I employ to create my work aims to remind the viewer of these simple but intimate pieces of everyday life and to provoke a pang of nostalgia for the familiar physicality of these objects.

What you’re about to view are the contents of two projects by the one known as DiCioccio. The first in the gallery is the “sewnnews” project. This is a project done over daily news articles, the New York Times to be exact – this project has been going on for several years now, only put onto the internet very recently. The newest works are from 2010.

Then you’re going to see a bunch of slides. This second project is known as “35mm sewnslides” and is done in a very similar vein as the news. But while the paper is sewn into a casing of hand-embroidered cotton muslin, the slides are instead embroidered directly onto the fragile bridal organza. In both cases, the final product has threads left to hang out in the wind. Loving, lovely strands of color.

Fragility, nostalgia, ritualistic beauty.

Currently Laren DiCioccio is represented by:
Jack Fischer Gallery
49 Geary Suite 440
San Francisco, CA 94108
www.jackfischergallery.com

So be sure to get in contact with them if you’re gonna want to get in contact with her!

This post is part of the World Famous Design Junkies 3D category.