Friday Inspiration - James Koehler

I love hearing how people became artists - so often, it seems that there was a chance event or meeting, a life altering decision made for reasons other than pursuing art, a lifelong love of creating that found a way to be expressed.  The late New Mexico artist James Koehler was an amazing tapestry weaver.  His elegant control over color and shape made me assume he'd studied art for many years, probably coming up through the university route.  Not so.  I recently found this video (click on the video symbol when you get to the page) made in 2007 when he received the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts that tells how he came to art.  Very fascinating!

Harmonic Oscillation XXXVIII, 2006.  Cotton warp, hand-dyed wool.

Koan: Ensnared Light XIV, 2006.  Cotton warp, hand-dyed wool.

My favorite Koehler works are the pieces that make me think of the Southwest.  His Harmonic Oscillation series brings to mind the layers of mountains in graduated colors you see in the desert.  His southwest blues and oranges are awe inspiring - these are the colors in our sunrises and sunsets that sometimes really do bring tears to my eyes. 





One version of his website is still active - be sure to take a look at the large number of his works on it!

Happy Creating!  Deborah