WHERE do I begin?
As I do the research on historical peoples, I am always saddened by the idea that they all thought their civilizations would last forever, and now very little remains of them and their lives. By portraying how they might have looked, I hope to honor them. It will remind all of us of the impermanence of our lives, as well as theirs. We must be careful and diligent that our era survives and does not disappear (and here I am being trite) into the “dusts of time”.

WHAT am I creating?
The fabrics for my costumes on canvas are handwoven by me and are people-sized and are attached to stretched art canvas frames. They are then painted: both on the background, and sometimes directly onto the woven surface. Beads and found objects add to the Mixed Media designation. Canvas sizes begin at 36” by 36” and go larger.

I love to work within the framework of a series. I can stay with one for a while, go to another, and then come back again. I do the research on early history peoples, but there is always room for my vivid imagination!

A current favorite is the era of 1000 AD and the civilizations that were ascending into power: the Japanese poet/warriors, the Vikings, the Byzantines from Constantinople, and the Mayans and early Incas. I also have a series on the early people of North America: a petroglyph series: Hidden Canyon Dwellers.

In the works are several Irish kings (circa 500 AD) and some Stonehenge Priests (2000 BC), and some warriors from the Norman invasion of England (1066 AD). So you can see, the histories of ancient people is certainly a fertile one. I just might have to live to the age of 300 to explore this subject!

BIOGRAPHY

WHY do this?
In the 1970’s, Anne took her first floor loom class, and she never looked back. The complexity of planning, threading, and weaving on the “machine” was too tempting. It is still intriguing and exciting to explore an ancient weaving craft with new materials, contemporary looms, and computers.
About 15 years ago, Anne seriously considered giving up weaving and fibers. Abstract art called to her. Those huge canvases of the Abstract Impressionists and that free flowing paint sounded like such a challenge and downright fun. But with a room full of looms, she hated to throw out 30 years of weaving knowledge. Thus was born the idea of attaching the costumes onto canvas and painting on them.

Painting is so immediate, compared to weaving. Weaving is creative, but very technical with lots of preplanning. Abstract painting is more emotional and free flowing. This uses both sides of the brain: emotion versus precision.

In 2015, Anne was one of 18 (out of 220 applicants) selected by the Golden Paint Company for a one month painting residency at their foundation/plant in New Berlin, New York.

This is where Anne Abendroth is today. Mixing acrylic paint and her handwoven fabrics and is now adding quilting to the mix. Tomorrow? Who knows, but she looks forward to an exciting creative journey.