Helen Giglio: Objects of Protection - Works in Fiber

"Around the time of the pandemic, a friend sent me a fascinating article about a hoard of charms and amulets recently discovered in the ruins of Pompeii. Archaeologists supposed that this eclectic collection had belonged to a healer or wise woman. From this beginning, I developed several series of fiber artworks focused on ideas of protection. As an artist, I am interested in the lives of women, across time and place, and these objects I have created are images of power, wisdom and resilience. Through the process of making, I rediscovered the protective properties of mindfully sewing stitches, slowly and by hand."

Helen Geglio received her BFA in studio art from the University of Michigan and also holds an MS in education from Indiana University. In her work as an artist, she creates hand stitched fiber artworks and has been represented in local, regional and national exhibits. Most recently her work has been selected for Fantastic Fibers 2023, Quilts=Art=Quilts 2022, Artist as Quiltmaker 2022, Quilt National 2021 and Visions: Interpretations 2021. Helen regularly exhibits with SAQA Global Exhibitions and the Surface Design Association. 

“The lives of women, and how we are connected to textiles, is what interests me as an artist. I collect worn clothing, domestic linens and sewing scraps, and then I construct meaning from these pieces of cloth. I enjoy the process of working with materials that have passed through other hands, and I look for a story, maybe a snapshot of a moment, to open a visual narrative. The idea of women’s work is a recurring theme in my art, so I use hand stitching and embroidery to hold the pieces together, to bind the layers and gather the textile detritus of the everyday into a new whole. The work I do, and the way of working that I value, is slow and mindful. In the end, I want to create an insightful visual image, one that invites viewers to look closely and make connections to their own stories.”

website -  https://www.helengeglio.com

Instagram - @hgeglio

pinterest - helengeglio