| “From pot holders, to chairs, to baskets,
and
rugs, I travel a weaver’s path. As the
connecting trails appear, I travel them to enhance my knowledge and
experience. Through my weaving I explore the elements of
form, function, color and texture. I
want my creations to be interesting, unusual yet familiar, perhaps
funky,
perhaps beautiful and definitely a pleasure to look at, to touch and to
use.” |
|
Paula
E. Kautz-LaPorte is a weaver.
Her creativity is
primarily expressed in traditional and
original baskets and woven furniture. Paula
has updated traditional into
modern with the use of new and recycled
materials as well as bright colors. Along
with wicker, splint, and birch
bark, her work includes baskets
woven with recycled belts, neckties, and electrical wire.
Paula’s chairs showcase the beauty and
strength of standard patterns yet stretch beyond the expected when she
uses
unusual patterns, colors, and materials.
When the opportunity
arises, Paula uses her weaving skills to create
works such as “Sailors’ Delight” a copper sunset woven on a giant
wooden artist’s
palette, and “Galaxy” a convergence of found and second time around
metal
components which create a four foot circular bust of glowing copper and
silver.
|
Paula is self-taught. She credits Mrs. Jackson, her elementary
school Home Economics teacher
and members of the Bennington Arts Guild for fanning the flame of her
creativity. Beyond potholders, Paula’s
weaving took off in 1990 when she established herself as a seat weaver. In 2006 she formally opened her business,
Paula’s Weaving Workshop, in downtown Bennington, Vermont.
Paula
lives
in an old farmhouse in Shaftsbury, Vermont with her husband Rob, their
family,
and pets.
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