Laura Cannamela, "Jūnihitoe-go"

Artist Statement

I live and work near a gorge carved from glacial flow, eroded by waterfalls, and sculpted by a meandering creek. I observe small details embedded in natural forms that parallel the massive geological forces which shape landscape, and these details inform the sculpture I make. In the past, I have made relief sculptures inspired by Persian miniatures, Tibetan thangkas, and Japanese illustrations for The Tale of Genji. These small, intimate, cut paper pieces bring all of these sources together. Jūnihitoe is a twelve-layered formal kimono used in Heian times. In my work, twelve cut paper layers can suggest landscapes eroded by flowing water or billowing cloud formations in the sky. The variety of textures, colors, and patterns are interwoven to create a balance between representational space and abstract form. Through the layering and cutting process, the relationship of past actions to the present is revealed, reflecting the continuity of time.

Artist Bio

Born in New Jersey, Laura Cannamela received her MFA from Queens Collegeof CUNY before moving to the Hudson Valley area. Her artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions at galleries around New York and New England. Within the past year she has shown her artwork at Gallery Korea of the Korean Cultural Center in NYC, and at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz. Her ceramic sculpture installation was selected for the Hudson Valley Artists 2017 Purchase Award for the Samuel Dorsky Museum’s permanent art collection.

She has also received recognition for her artwork through the Platte Clove 2014 Artist-in-Residence Program, the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) 2009 SOS Grant Program, and the NYFA 2008 Mark Program. In 2010, she was awarded a grant by the Freeman Foundation, along with the Five College Center for East Asian Studies, to travel to Japan.

Jūnihitoe-go, cut paper, 2.5” x 2.5” 2021 $100