John Hess

Woven Textiles

ChromasphereHieroglyphicsUndulariumElliptical VariationsArabesqueEighteen EyesMetallic Folded FanSequenciaBlue Linear FoldsYellow Linear FoldsElliptical MirrorsContrariumShadow Mirrors

Chromasphere

Salt Lake City

A three section woven wall sculpture commission with numerous color, line, and texture changes. Four layers are woven independently and cut acrylic inserts are placed in the bottom pockets for stability and the top layer is woven longer, so that it can be pushed back against bottom and raised in soft, dimensional folds. There is great variety in the dark/light color changes, with many linear changes in width and repetition.

Folded cotton triple weave
8.5‘w x 7.5‘h x 2“d
2018

Chromasphere

Hieroglyphics

Salt Lake City

Nine-section wall relief where in an open weave, painted acrylic panels with a wide assortment of painted graphic images are inserted into the woven pockets and locked into place with woven bands of wool. The overall effect creates a silent language of visual communication.

Cotton / wool double weave, painted acrylic, reflective inserts
37.5“w x 37.5“h x 0.5“d
2018

Hieroglyphics

Undularium

Salt Lake City

A complex woven relief with four layers woven independently, two for top layer and two for bottom layer, with cut acrylic shapes inserted into woven pockets. The top layer is woven longer than bottom layer and pushed back against bottom layer to get raised, dimensional folds.

Folded wool triple weave
36“w x 23“h x 2“d
2018

Undularium

Elliptical Variations

Salt Lake City

A folded, double woven weaving showing painted, elliptical shapes in various scale changes. A second image showing the two sections arranged as a Diptych.

Fabric paint on cotton/wool double weave
55 inches x 19.5 inches x 3 inches
2018

Elliptical Variations

Arabesque

Salt Lake City

A folded, four section wall relief, mounted to a painted canvas backing with a copper, metal mesh surface.

Woven cotton pattern panels, metal mesh, painted circular canvas patterns.
Four sections, each 24“w x 12“h x 3“d.
2013

Arabesque

Eighteen Eyes

Salt Lake City

I cut templates to mark patterns on the woven cloth, paint surfaces with various metallic paints and laminate painted metallic discs to the woven surface. I make the discs by pouring a mix of Plaster of Paris and water into molds, remove after dry, then sand and paint the discs with metallic paint.

Metallic paint,metallic painted discs on folded cotton double weave.
46“w x 23“h x 1“d
2015

Eighteen Eyes

Metallic Folded Fan

Salt Lake City

A fan shaped metallic, double woven wall relief, with top half section in deep gold, brown and blue metallic yarns and bottom half section in deep blues with warm centered pattern band. Cut acrylic shapes inserted into double woven pockets for stability.

Double woven Metallic yarns
3.5‘w to 2‘w bottom x 2.5‘h x 2“d
2013

Metallic Folded Fan

Sequencia

Salt Lake City

A folded, double woven relief with raised pockets to receive painted round rods in Blues & Sienna Browns, and various horizontal twill pattern bands.

Wool, double weave twill with 1/4 inches round rods
36“w with rods, 28“w woven fabric only x 31“h x 3.5“d
2015

Sequencia

Blue Linear Folds

Salt Lake City

A folded double weave with woven vertical lines emphasizing vertical movement, and cut acrylic panels inserted into double woven pockets for stability.

Cotton double weave
20“w x 24“h x 3“d
2017

Blue Linear Folds

Yellow Linear Folds

Salt Lake City

A folded, cotton double weave showing woven lines emphasizing horizontal movement.

Cotton double weave.
20“w x 24“h x 3“d
2017

Yellow Linear Folds

Elliptical Mirrors

Salt Lake City

Folded relief showing various elliptical shapes mirrored on a center line in contrasting,complimentary colors.

Fabric paint on cotton/wool double weave
19.5“w x 25“h x 1.5“d
2017

Elliptical Mirrors

Contrarium

Salt Lake City

Two sections, mounted in opposing arcs with an implied circular rotation, each with it’s own color variation.

A two section folded cotton twill sculpture.
3‘w x 5‘h x 3“d
2014

Contrarium

Shadow Mirrors

Salt Lake City

A folded, double woven metallic relief with acrylic mirrors inserted into woven pockets, picking up adjacent images and surrounding images of environment. Dyed cords are shaped into elliptical forms and laminated to painted backgrounds.

Metallic yarns,acrylic mirrors,dyed cotton cord, paint
20“w x 15“h x 2“d
2013

Shadow Mirrors