Denise Kooperman

My fiber art has focused mainly on collaged and felted wall hangings similar to the art quilt. I have also made felted figures, vessels, and articles of clothing.

More recently I have been felting with papers and wool in a variation of the Korean technique called “Joomchi.” Hanji or Korean mulberry papers are layered with other papers such as tissue, crepe, paper towels, silk, wool and other fibers, wet down with water and felted until they all hold together in a strong and textured whole. Some of the papers deconstruct during the felting process, producing an interesting textured surface.

My wool and paper felted pieces start out as fragile and loosely held-together compositions. The layers are thoroughly wet, rolled between bubble wrap until adhering together, then folded, mashed, squeezed, thrown and manipulated until the fibers bind together, are strengthened and completely integrated. The process is very organic, physically demanding, and can often give surprising results.

It never ceases to amaze me how something as fragile as raw wool and papers can be manipulated in this way and come out of the process stronger. In a sense, this can be seen as a metaphor for life and the resilience many people display in the face of great adversity and trauma. I have seen many people in my practice as a psychotherapist who have suffered terrible abuse and losses. Beaten down and tossed around by life, some are able to come out stronger than before while others are unable to cope. Having a life as a therapist and fiber artist enables me to conceptualize these issues.