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Writer's pictureShea Stanfield

Creating Masterpieces from Scraps

None of the color, shape, and texture is accidental in the world of Tucson, Arizona fiber artist Tamara Scott-Anderson. In her creations beautiful things come together with one piece, one stitch, and one vision at a time. Tamara’s passion for fabric, texture and repurposing found items results in a distinctive form of 3-dimensional fiber wall sculpture. She describes her pieces as "Textural impressionistic compositions held together with rich color, multiple layers of embellishment, woven with a process developed for a unique form of wall sculpture."

Tamara grew up in Indio, California, located in the Coachella Valley of the Southern Colorado Desert region. She credits her high school drama teacher as the first person to encourage and inspire her creative expression. When Tamara reached the University of Arizona in Tucson to begin her college career, Sue Pfaffl, her dance instructor, helped her reframe the world through an expanded creative lens. Following the completion of her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Arts in art education, Tamara continued her studies to become a Certified Interior Designer. During Tamara's 30-year interior design career, she worked part-time on her art, pivoting her vast knowledge and love of textiles into new creative expressions. By the time she was ready to retire from the world of interior design, she had developed a small body of work prepared to be launch into the vibrant art market.

Today, Tamara works from her home studio in Tucson, Arizona, with what she describes as 'contemplative intention.' "I bring together a blend of weaving, dyeing, stitching, and beading to create unique 3-dimensional textile wall sculptures."

Her inspiration is drawn from the lush desert landscapes and botanicals found in the high Sonoran Desert area where she lives and works. Her compositions are full of rich patterning depth accomplished with multi-layers of hand-dyed and painted fabrics. In addition to commercial fabrics, trims and beads are added for textural interest. Most recently, Tamara incorporated material she has recused/reclaimed from the streets and washes of Tucson, known as her Street series. The result is stunning, masterful pieces that may remind observers of a trip through Lewis Carroll's lush landscapes of Alice's Wonderland and have caught the attention of numerous collectors across the country.

"Textural impressionistic compositions held together with rich color, multiple layers of embellishment; woven with a process developed for a unique form of wall sculpture."

Artist Tamara Scott-Anderson's professional affiliations speak volumes for the depth of her commitment to her artistic expression. She is a member of the Fiber Artists of Southern Arizona, the Tucson Handweavers & Spinners Guild, the Fiber Arts Network, the Surface Design Association, and the Tucson Museum of Art Contemporary Art Society.


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