Untitled

Size: 7 x 7 x 5

Medium: Sequin sculpture

Monica Valentine’s primary practice takes the form of optically charged sculptures composed of foam shapes that are densely covered with beads and sequins. Valentine is blind and wears prosthetic eyes, having lost her sight at birth. Working with great dexterity, Valentine threads sequins and seed beads onto thin pins, then uses her hands to feel along the foam in order to find their placement. The process is rhythmic and calculated. Valentine’s exacting standards of bead size and color, foam shape and material, result in forms that are whole and perfect in their being. Visually rich and luminous, her sculptures are either monochromatic (red is her favorite color), or blooming with multiple hues across the visual plane as Valentine creates layers by juxtaposing the colors of sequins and beads.Introduced by touch to a Saori loom by Studio Instructor Anne Meade Paden, Valentine weaves in monochromatic yarns until the piece outgrows the loom. Working exclusively in red, orange, green, or blue, her long textiles have a distinctive looped fringe on the left side that forms as she pulls the shuttle out to feel the yarn’s tension before starting the next row. Valentine’s long singular weavings have been installed individually, or made into clothing: ponchos, dresses, and wraps, and are often adorned with bike reflectors.

Creative Growth / Oakland, CA