Jean Henry

Chronicle

I am the fabric of my Parents’ warp and weft,
Spun fiber of Grandmothers’ and Grandfathers’ making -
Colored with memories of farm and garden,
A dye of vegetables and blooms,
Old bits of cloth sewn into a flower garden quilt,
Striped mittens formed of leftover yarn,
Love made dresses and joy filled times,
Tins of old buttons, boxes of beads,
Chains of daisies, potions of herbs,
Sweet smelling sawdust,
And wood planed curls,
The whoosh of saw blades,
Tap of hammers, piles of nails.

I nap in the bed Grandpa made for his bride,
And weed round the peonies that came from Mom’s Mom.
The little hands that fished wires for my Father back then,
Now fashion wire swirls for bracelets and charms,
And small fingers that struggled with needles and hooks
Have grown nimble with brushes and scissors and stitch.
Hands taught by hands that made what was needed
Dictated by necessity, and by whatever was handy -
Saved, salvaged, reused or gathered-
Defined by design and creativity.
I have followed their lead
For though none claimed to be -
They were creators and
All artists as well.
And this labyrinth path has brought me round
To consider the life spelled “Artist.”

Jean Henry is a mixed media artist who creates wearable art. After a career in the graphic arts industry, she returned to her alma mater, Syracuse University, College of Visual and Performing Arts where she was awarded a Master of Arts in Textile Design. Jean teaches at Syracuse University, College of Visual and Performing Art in the Fashion and Design Technologies Department and gives private instruction. She has also studied spiritual and energy work alternative healing arts and incorporates these into her artwork. Several of her pieces have been published in The Sewing Machine as a Creative Tool by Karen Bakke. The exhibition “Fashion Fashion!” at Delavan Art Gallery, Syracuse, NY, show included six of her pieces in the gallery exhibition and three in the runway production.

Contact: Jean Henry
6139 Olmsted Rd
Chittenango, NY 13037
henryest@twcny.rr.com
Phone: 315-655-2225 (Cazenovia Artisans' phone)