Winnie van der Rijn "Oh Say Can You See"

Winnie van der Rijn is a multi-disciplinary artist of opportunity– collecting materials, experimenting with techniques, and pursuing her curiosities. Her art practice includes textiles, sculpture, collage, and collaboration (which she considers its art form). She plays well with others. Winnie actively exhibits her work throughout the United States and internationally.  A lifelong learner, Winnie graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1989 with a BA in Sociology. She is constantly trying to reconcile her deeply feminist outlook and leftist Berkeley education with her military upbringing. She has studied printmaking, sculpture, metalsmithing, and Marxist theory. In addition, Winnie has explored weaving, machine knitting, bookmaking, altars, exploding picture boxes, automata, shoe making, millinery, sewing, fusing, stamping, metal weaving, resin, riveting, precious metal clay, and mixed media. She is wildly curious about how things are made. Her recently completed project 'How to Dismantle the Patriarchy' has been shown in various locations including the Textile Arts Center (Brooklyn, NY), Dairy Arts (Boulder, CO), Museum of Sonoma County (Santa Rosa, CA), The New Bauhaus (Iasi Romania), Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, TN) and the self-invented Museum of Natural Consequences (New York, NY). Winnie has completed residencies at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn, FabScrap in NYC, Chateau Orquevaux in France, and MASSMoCA in Massachusetts. Winnie, a seventh-generation Californian, is currently based in New York. She and her husband are redefining what it means to be empty nesters.

“I create statement art intended to elevate the value of women in society. To do this I lean on my traditionally female, very domestic skills of sewing, weaving & embroidery. Subversive stitching as an act of rebellion. My art practice centers around the quote “The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” – Toni Cade Bambara. I work with ubiquitous materials and tools - because I want the revolution to be both irresistible and accessible. I am fueled by menopausal rage, feelings of invisibility as I age, frustration, distress, despair, grief, humor, and hope. I am interested in mending and other radical acts of care in a fractured world. I lean into absurdity. I’m mending history, dismantling the patriarchy, and taking down systems. I’m repairing, disassembling, rearranging, reimagining, reassembling, examining and questioning. I am constantly trying to reconcile my leftist Berkeley education and deeply feminist core with my military upbringing. I consider my practice ‘artistic improv’ with a decidedly “Yes, and...” approach. I’m a textile artist, sometimes; a feminist artist, primarily; an experimental artist, always. Every time the world speeds up, I react by slowing down– working more & more with my hands in an attempt to balance the universe. How much trouble can I make with my needle and thread?” - Winnie van der Rijn