Layers of Meaning

Tom Lundberg - Images from Memory

Tom Lundberg creates small scale fiber works with a keen sense of craftsmanship and humor. Many of his works are "pockets", small embroideries measuring about 5 1/4" X 4 3/8", created in the shape of a shirt pocket. Each pocket describes its own world of events and dynamics.

Lundberg describes these worlds: "On the fronts and backs of their court robes, officials in imperial China wore panels called Mandarin squares. Embroidered with birds, animals, waves and clouds, these insignia diagrammed how each individual fit within an ordered and layered universe.In my embroidered pictures, glimpses of everyday life merge with fragments of memory. The steady process of stitching attempts to bind and compress the fleeting moments that trigger each piece. Like threads pulled from intertwining networks, small details reflect the bigger picture."

"Red Pruning Shears" brings to mind the pop art sensibilities of Jim Dine. It's a understated composition in red and white with a precise drawing of the implements and the consequences. Other works, such as Evening Pocket, are more painterly narratives creating a silent world of mystery, reminiscent of painters like Hollis Sigler or Edward Hopper.

In a statement at the Hibberd McGrath Gallery, Lundberg reveals the importance of memory to his creations: "In my embroidered pictures, glimpses of everyday life merge with fragments of memory. Needle and thread offer a way of working that is simple and direct. This process is slow and deliberate, in contrast to the fleeting moments that trigger each piece."