Leslie Pelino
Notable Quotes:
‘Pelino creates a world steeped in memory and nostalgia. Each element of salvaged material has been handled and passed down, interweaving memories, materials and space, down to the antique loom on which the artist shuttles and collapses time. Scraps evolve into visual stories rich in imagination and tailored for individualization.’
“This is beauty with a twist of the grim, humorous while empathic, playful yet grounded, soulful while dour, frenetic yet narratively rich and awesomely silent.”
Livia Straus, HVMOCA director and co-founder
“Pelino’s complex objects are made from reused and repurposed materials, from fabrics, faux furs, and sequins to yarn, wire, ribbon, trims, tassels, fringe, and just about anything colorful, textured, or sparkly that catches her eye. She uses a floor loom to weave fibers and fabric scraps together, but that is only a first step.
Her shapes are irregular, organic, and spontaneous; many resemble plant forms, some are vessels with layers of decoration, and some are purely products of her active imagination.
The joyous excess of the sculptures is expressed in the wild color scheme (every imaginable bright hue is present in a crazy, harmonious way) and the explosion of texture that Pelino achieves. This fantasy garden is pure fun.”
Lesley Ann Beck director of communications for the Berkshire Museum
