PAULA HEAPHY | National September 11 Memorial & Museum

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Artist's Statement

As the sun pierced the New York skyline from the subway window, I reflected on my move to Nashville and the artwork I became obsessed with creating. And then it hit me. That fragile tower of eggs, it was New York. Years of staggering pain and fear resonating from September 11th poured out in a stream of consciousness into my beadwork. The once invincible city, my home that generations of ancestors built and loved, froze in fragile silence.

The move from New York to Nashville was more than culture shock, it was more like an aftershock. Silence, no distractions, no cars honking, no one flipping the bird. The ground felt sound. Where am I? As an artist I always dreamed of two things, having more time and hitting the mute button on the city so I could hear what my own voice had to say. Never would I have imagined that my healing would weave it’s way out of me. For “Fragile World” and “Family Table”, I wove together hundreds of hand blown, tea-stained eggs with fishing line. This medium took me to a place I have never experienced. I would not say that I lost myself in beading, but I found that my mind became very still, very quiet, very present. The work unfolded and took a life of it’s own. Unconsciously I chose the egg, the symbol of birth, rebirth, and renewal. When hand blown, the egg is so vulnerable. These pieces represent all that resonates in the air since September 11th, 2001. Our home, the economy, our lives, all feel so very fragile.

Resume

I have been working as a freelance textile designer in the fashion industry in NY for the last sixteen years. I started my career as an assistant designer for Liz Claiborne and worked my way up as a freelancer working for companies such as Calvin Klein, Izod, Isaac Mizrahi, and Lucky Brand. Freelancing gave me the freedom to get off the computer explore the tactile world. In the last three years I have been part of two artist in residence programs at the Banff Centre in Canada and at Vanderbilt University. Both experiences completely changed my life. The opportunity to work with artists from all over the globe, from various backgrounds and disciplines, completely reframed my perspective. I have been a part of three group art shows in the past year in Nashville, TN and New Bern, NC. The common thread throughout my journey has been exploring pattern and story through various textile mediums. I am currently working as a full time Computer-Aided Print Designer for the Gap in New York and illustrating a children’s book with Erin Frankel.

Employment

2009 The Gap, Inc, Senior CAD Print Designer
2001-2008 Freelance U4ia CAD Print Designer, Isaac Mizrahi, Izod, The Gap, Calvin Klein, Sigrid Olsen, Liz Claiborne, Van Heusen, Lucky Brand, Juicy Couture, Express, Banana Republic, Old Navy
1997-2001 Victoria’s Secret Design Studios, New York, Senior CAD Textile Artist
1993-1997 Liz Claiborne, New York, CAD Textile Artist, created original textile prints, graphics, knitwear layouts, and embroideries. Collaborated with design team on color and design flow. Associate Designer of Knits and Wovens. Pioneered implementation of CAD into the design flow process. Responsible for trim development, coordinating fit sessions, presentations.
1992-1993 American Beauty, New York, Designer, patternmaker, and illustrator

Education

2009 Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY...Glassblowing, Beadmaking
2008 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, Scholarship for an arts residency in bead work
2007 Lower East Side Printshop, New York, Japanese woodcut and Intaglio printing
2005 The Banff Arts Centre, Alberta, Canada, Scholarship for a thematic arts residency
2005 Gotham Writers, Travel writing
2003 International Wine Center, Certificate in Viticulture and Vinification
2000 New York University, Certificate in 3D Modeling, Animation, and Special Effects for film
1993 Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, BS in Fashion Design/Fine Arts

Group Art Exhibitions

May 2008 Tibbott Center Gallery, University School of Nashville, Tiny Beads, Big Ideas
Nov 2008 Craven Arts Gallery, New Bern, North Carolina, Juried Sculpture Show

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