Originally from Buffalo, New York, Patti married a Canadian and lived in Grimsby, Toronto and currently, Fort Erie. With a background in painting, pottery and fibers, Harris’ art career has developed from weaving to papermaking and, more recently, has evolved into sculptural assemblages. Endeavoring always to blend color, texture, dimension and fiber in her work, she has taken classes in ceramics, printmaking and painting. She has been in many juried shows and has had many one person and group shows in the Buffalo and Toronto areas and the Niagara region. Patti is an exhibiting member of the Buffalo Society of Artists.
Statement:
I am inspired by industrial design, natural materials and vintage objects. Putting a variety of materials together, in old boxes, in frames, in and on foundry patterns and old wood typifies much of my work. Whether creating a collage or assemblage, I generally use these old parts that have stood the test of time; as in metal vs. plastic, wood vs. veneer, stone vs. acrylic
I apply materials somewhat ambiguous in meaning, but arranged in a well-designed manner. For me, it is all about the visual impact. The objects I choose often don’t routinely ‘go together;’ the resulting work necessitates thought on the viewer’s part. Hidden meanings, humorous twists, irony and surreal elements embody many pieces.
My art clearly may mean one thing to one person and possibly something different to another. Each of us has a unique set of experiences that inhabit our perceptions and cause us to react one way or another to what we see. My goal is that my art will strike at that perception and create a new way of looking at the relationship between the parts and the new emerging dynamic, keeping in mind that others’ interpretations are often different than mine, as their reality is also different from mine.
