Williams, Tony (USA),
A Kaleidoscope of Color
ARTIST STATEMENT
Tony williams
My passion for art is ancestor-driven. As a papermaker of color, pushing the boundaries between paper and textiles has evolved into sculptural work. Over the past 15 years, I have been experimenting with paper garments and accessories as wearable and sculptural art. A combination of hand papermaking and traditional African dyeing techniques forms the basis of my work, which utilizes indigo dye from plants that once grew abundantly in South Carolina's Low country. My process of making paper with Kozo fiber allows me to explore new possibilities for sculptural expression as I create intricate patterns on hand-made Indigo paper cloth using immersion dyeing methods, stamping techniques, batik techniques, and resist dyeing techniques. I am exploring the gifts my ancestors gave me: strength, creativity, and intellect.
A KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLOR
This kozo paper ensemble, with its translucent, sheer, geometrically patterned top and tie-dyed pants, exudes an eclectic and bohemian aesthetic.