On a sunny summer afternoon, the heat of the sun could only be matched by the vibrance of the weavings of Crystal Gregory. I entered her studio to the sight of beautiful weavings atop unexpected industrial materials and geometrical glasswork.

It Did Not Take Much Moving To Come Along As Fast As We Were Going, Glass, copper, solder, 6.5 ft x 4 ft, $7,900

In the game of weaving, Crystal sets herself apart by juxtaposing bold, beautiful textiles with a backdrop of materials of an opposite nature, such as concrete.

"Concrete is understood as hard and structural where as weaving is understood as pliable and soft. In my work I am interested in comparing these two systems and highlighting weaving as a structure system."

Each textile is handwoven on a loom with both color and pattern as defining factors to its making. Colors are chosen with the rules of Joseph Albers' relativity of color in mind  how the perception of them can be changed based on what they are around. Since in weaving, colors are blocked more than blended, you really get to see each and every one. When choosing the pattern, Crystal is more interested in the negative space it will leave behind.

"In lace structures the negative space within the cloth becomes a point of activation. It acts as a filter and in some ways the negative space is more important than the thread or pattern of the material."

This idea is what allowed Crystal to drift into a new material - glass. She transfers pattern techniques from her weaving into three dimensional glasswork creations.

"I see glasswork as a type of lace. I lived in Chicago with such incredible architecture. The Rookery building had me so awestruck with its lit atrium and high towers, it led me to start working with glass."

Before She Knew Study, Glass and solder, 1ft x 1ft x 1ft, $920

Passage II, Glass and solder, 8" x 10" x 10", $720

Passage I, Glass and solder, 8" x 8" x 10", $720

Her next goal is to start bringing these two types of works together. She would like to create an exhibition with a fluent conversation between all types of pieces. In working towards this, she will be collaborating with fellow Fiercely Curious artist, Alexa Williams on a show.

"My work more systematic and instructional where hers is more expressionist. The freedom mixed with the sense of the structure gives it strength."

Variation on a Theme (Yellow Yellow Blue), Handwoven Lace, concrete, 6 ft x 4 ft, $7200

Email us for a studio visit to see Crystal Gregory's newest work in person: erin@fiercelycurious.com.

Crystal and Alexa will be opening their show on Thursday, August 25th from 6-8pm at Ground Floor Gallery:

Ciao for now,

Taylor