I began my fibers and textiles career in the 1960s when I started making macrame wall hangings, and my studies led to a Master of Fine Arts degree in weaving and fabric design from the University of North Texas under the tutelage of Roger K. Thomason. Having worked in fiber for many decades, I have created loom-woven tapestries, off-loom woven sculptures, and my work now focuses upon basketry techniques and materials.

My fiber work emphasizes traditional basketry techniques of weaving, coiling, twining, knotting, and wrapping to create contemporary works which stretch the boundaries of that which the materials will allow.

Although traditional basketry usually serves a strictly functional purpose, my work is also narrative. Currently I am exploring two directions:

My palette series utilizes the format of the historical American tobacco basket, a large square
shallow hardwood basket which was used to display tobacco leaves to prospective customers. Using this format, I illustrate the forces of nature, personal narratives, and the dilemmas of humankind. With a background in painting, I like to think of these works as ‘painting with reed’—translating the colors and design of painting into the basketry format. I use the random weave technique, sometimes to create movement and other times to illustrate chaos. 

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My three-dimensional fish trap series is based upon indigenous fish, crab, eel, and lobster traps which were traditionally made of bamboo and rope. I incorporate the concepts of trapping, captivity, isolation, censorship and imprisonment to illustrate current human conditions and events. The incorporation of recycled objects and materials illustrates the extent of waste produced by humankind but also and more importantly, how recyclables may be used to create works that are playful and have personal meaning.

 

I taught in the fine arts department at Tarleton State University for 11 years, and then joined the faculty at UT Southwestern Medical School. I currently teach occasionally for UCLA, and spend most of my time in my studio.
 

Scott Hagar Photography

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