In this episode I speak with Leesa Zarinelli a local community member and an internationally recognized textile and fiber artist.

Four Corners Arts Forum

Leesa Zarinelli’s elegant fiber and textile art has been shown in galleries and art centers around the world. She has had solo exhibtions in Japan and throughout the US and has participated in over 25 juried and invitational shows as well. Her work has appeared in multiple publications including Japan Times, Art Quilts International and Fiber Art Now where she had the front and back covers. In addition Leesa has also written articles for European Textile Network and Surface Design Journal to name a few. Although she grew upon in a creative family of “makers” with a father who owned a successful bakery and a mother who was an accomplished seamstress, her passion for fiber arts really flourished during her 9 years of living in Japan with her husband who was teaching school there. As a culture the Japanese have an historical connection to fiber arts, surface design and natural dying using foraged plant material. In this interview we learn from Leesa about the process of making plant dyes which can be unpredictable depending on the PH of the soil creating wonderful unexpected color variations in the fabric. She uses the liners of Kimonos which are pure white silk because the Japanese women keep their Kimonos for life only changing out the liners which then Leesa uses for her extraordinary art. We also learn about the Japanese art of Shibouri, a stitch resist technique which she incorporates in her pieces. All of this Leesa learned from many workshops with local women weavers and and from dying and weaving coops in Japan.

Now she’s getting ready to exhibit new work at an upcoming show this fall 2024 at Studio & Gallery here in Durango, Colorado. This is a chance to see her exquisite art pieces!

You can also view her artwork on her website at www.leesazarinelli.com