“Interdimensional Threads” by Chris Erickson and Claire Wright
Claire Wright at the Cosecha Textiles home base located just outside Carbondale.
“I love keeping more trash out of the landfill. I love the sculptural element of upholstery. I love the layers that each piece has, and the unique construction and components that lay beneath the pretty surface. It’s all so damn symbolic, isn’t it?”
Carbondale Arts presented a 2-person exhibition featuring Chris Erickson and Claire Wright. Their collaborative exhibition was on display March 1 through April 5, 2024. The opening reception took place on First Friday, March 1, from 5-7pm at The Launchpad, with an artist talk at 5:30pm.
There are threads that connect us all and every choice we make adds another stitch to the tapestry that is this reality as we know it. “Interdimensional Threads” explored the connection between art forms, humans, planet earth, and the past, present and future.
Artists Chris Erickson and Claire Wright, with a shared passion for sustainability and color, weave together a vibrant, multi-dimensional, and multi-functional community space where stories are told about the past, one can sit and be present in the moment, and the work itself provides new life to otherwise potentially discarded materials for a whole new future.
Erickson and Wright used their masterful skills in woodworking, welding, painting, sewing, designing, and upholstering to make functional and useful art that can be enjoyed for many years to come. Both are artists in the Roaring Fork River Valley but the concept for this show was created when Claire reached out to Chris on none other than Instagram, of course, and was like, “Hey, I love your art and I have an idea.”
Thank you, Sponsor!
Many thanks to Arcos Energy for generously sponsoring “Interdimensional Threads”. Arcos Energy is a local small business based in Carbondale, CO that provides Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure development and consultation services throughout Colorado and beyond.
Learn more at arcos.energy.
Chris Erickson, Carbondale
Chris Erickson is an artist recognized for his captivating use of color through contemporary works that blur the line between sculpture and painting. His art encourages the examination of color as expression and its relationship to human behavior.
Born in Denver, Chris became inspired through city skate culture iconography and the concrete canvas. Yet, finding home in the mountains guided him into an applied art practice—one imbedded in sense of place. His bodies of work are informed through these experiences and expose his ties to graphic design, graffiti art, and fine art techniques. Erickson’s art is often translated through the mediums of spray paint, acrylic, canvas, and panel; although, often merging industrial design and fabrication into his creative process.
Chris continues to execute in a multidisciplinary fashion, which is evident through his recognized “Melting Gondola” sculpture set atop Aspen’s Ajax Mountain. He remains inspired to utilize art as a platform for conversation.
SuperULTRAmega is an interpretation of distilling the distracting noise of the modern technological world into a tenacious display of energy. His mole©ules are a series of character like icons that represent the magnification of various groups and beliefs, often speaking to systemic issues.
Claire Wright, Carbondale
I am “from” many places: Born in Iowa, raised in New Mexico, with chosen homes in Southern Spain, the San Juan Islands, and now Carbondale, Colorado. To quote three great women, Parton, Harris, and Ronstadt, “Just a wild mountain rose needing freedom to grow, so I ran fearing not where I'd go. When a flower grows wild it can always survive, wildflowers don't care where they grow”. My work is mostly influenced and inspired by that spark of a feeling I get when colors just look so damn good together. Nature has always helped me to feel that feeling, too. I mean, the colors of lichen and moss and wildflowers, am I right?!
My journey into the world of Upholstery has primarily been driven by my need to survive (make money), my desire to thrive (be my own boss), my love for working with my hands (artsy fartsy), and people simply asking me if I can (my ego). I started out many moons ago as a teenager just sewing my own clothes and thus my love for fabric and sewing was born. The evolution has been natural and fast and wild and fun and everything in between. I now own and operate a full service Upholstery and Custom Sewing business and offer workshops and monthly DIY nights. Surely you’ve heard of Cosecha Textiles!
Enjoy a recording of the artist talk from opening night, First Friday, March 1.
Article featured in The Sopris Sun, published March 13, 2024. Photo credit: Sue Rollyson