Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Galloway.
Casey, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have always had an innate attraction to textiles. I started collecting antique doilies and lacework at the age of 7. I just found their shapes and textures fascinating and beautiful. I remember thinking a lot about the people who made these pieces and how they came to be in antique and vintage shops. Why would someone spend so much time on such a tiny decorative element? Where were they from? What were their lives like? That led me to an interest in vintage clothing and garment construction in high school. I followed that interest in college. I initially majored in fashion design at the University of North Texas and took a weaving class as an elective in that program, and as they say, it was all over for me after that. I quickly changed my major to Fiber. The loom consumed me. I became engrossed in the mechanisms of the loom, the structures and design of weaving, and the rich range of techniques textiles has to offer. When I graduated in 2009, I moved back to San Antonio, where I’m from, and began teaching beginning weaving at Southwest School of Art. In 2012, I was one of the founders of Wool Tree Yarn, which Is a line of naturally dyed yarn. In 2014, I was hired for my current position as Fiber Department Coordinator at SSA. I continue to make functional textiles and conceptual work out of my home studio in Castroville, TX.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am both a maker of functional textiles and a visual artist. My functional work consists of wearables, and housewares (garments, scarves, table linens, rugs, blankets, exc.) that are all hand weaved and hand dyed. Some of the functional works are machine made textiles that I then do natural dyeing techniques on. This gives a wide range of prices for customers and cuts down some on my production times.
My visual art currently deals with systems/ equations/ cycles/ loops that will develop unpredictable outcomes, to balance order with allowing materials and techniques to determine the result. Certain weaving, stitching, and dyeing techniques are utilized for their spontaneity which
creates playful improvisation into my tendencies to work in rigid units, grids, and geometric shapes. I am working with weaving, paper collage, and ceramics.
I don’t particularly strive for a certain message or take away for the viewer. That is really hard to control, but I would hope that customers of my functional work learn to love and appreciate handmade textiles. They just feel more special to wear and tend to last ALOT longer than the mass produced textiles that are available these days. The visual art I make tends to be minimal. I prefer having artwork around my home that is soothing and can give the mind a place to rest. I make that kind of work for others.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
The conditions are certainly different depending on where you live. San Antonio and Houston have a very supportive art scene which is great. The support for functional makers isn’t as great as for visual artists, but that is slowly changing. One of the largest issues I have come across is the lack of affordable studio spaces for artists. I am not sure how to fix that exactly. There are a lot of empty buildings in and around downtown SA. It would take someone with money and a willingness to work with artists, but there could be more spaces developed for both visual artists and musicians.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I show in galleries around Texas mostly and typically participate in at least one craft fair every year. The best way to see my work would be to follow me on Instagram (@_casey_galloway_) or Facebook (Casey Galloway). I post about what I’m working on and where I’m showing/selling work. I also do commission work fairly often and sell work off of my website. www.caseygalloway.com My contact info will be there as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.caseygalloway.com
- Instagram: @_casey_galloway_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casey.galloway.56
Image Credit:
Beth Devillier
Lata Gedala
Casey Galloway
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