Diana Harrison’s quilts and textile hangings reflect a contrast of strength and quiet, of precision and happenstance, of wear and long-lasting presence. The forms are strong and deliberate, yet the overall effect is contemplative and thoughtful. In some pieces, the quilting stitches are linear and remarkably even, thus contrasting dramatically with the rough, hardened surfaces. The shapes are purposefully imperfect, with deliberately unfinished edges, loosely hanging threads, and hazily blurred markings. In others, Harrison begins with a familiar object and transforms it—through folding, dyeing, and printing—into a new piece that leaves only an echo of its original form.

Harrison refers to her process as a narrative, a conversation with each piece that evolves as she works. In some instances, such as Beginning and Beyond, she begins with a black cloth, which is densely stitched and then discharged or bleached to remove color. The bold forms evoke aged wood or stone with a patina of marks remaining as time erodes and alters the forms, yet leaves them strongly rooted in place. Other pieces represent her process of deconstruction—as in Pillowcases—where the process of removing seams, dyeing, and overprinting subsumes the original purpose.  

Harrison’s work is commemorative, evoking the day-to-day context of life. She finds value in the ordinary, seeing each item with its own physical and emotional story. Her work invites further conversation and contemplation about the traces that remain.