“To work with threads seemed sissy to me. I wanted something to be conquered. But circumstances held me to threads and they won me over.” —Anni Albers

Artist Statement

MIXED MEDIA, for me, represents the intersection of textiles and painting. For my landscapes, I find a muse in the mountains and open expanses surrounding where I live in Marfa, TX. There’s a spareness and bristle to the raw beauty of the high desert plateau.

My travel-inspired collages incorporate food and architectural elements—from tabletop compositions to zellige (geometric) tile interpretations.

Developed through trial and error, my studio techniques are layered across many mediums. I enjoy the complexity and back-and-forth innovation possible with unexpected materials: cloth, thread, acrylic, and board. I loosely identify my work as mixed media fabric collage. The design process is organic and intuitive as I begin pulling from a color-and-pattern palette of fabrics, my stash of woven and printed goods that I’ve collected for decades: new, vintage, and from around the world. I audition diverse fabric combinations to establish desired results and sometimes use acrylic paint to modulate color or details. My pieces integrate hand-stitching with assorted thread weights to embroider additional texture.

I’ve always worked with my hands and enjoy the progression of building, layering, and exploring new boundaries. I appreciate how a design builds over time and value the tactility of textiles. My work stems from a diverse background in art, architecture, painting, fiber arts, sewing, and textile production through historic preservation projects.

Cloth is malleable and versatile, so piecing fragments and strips together with thread makes sense to me. I grew up sleeping under a hand-made quilt pieced together using scraps from my mother’s childhood dresses—that quilt told a story. My art tells stories, too.

About

Marwitz enrolled in weaving and textile courses as a part of her studio arts curriculum at the University of Houston. Two graduate degrees followed from the School of Architecture at The University of Texas in Austin.

Darlene has worked on major historic preservation projects and has overseen the research, design, and reproduction of numerous period textiles: woven matelasse and brocatelle drapery fabrics, hand-crafted passementerie, plus Wilton and Brussels carpets loomed in England. Her travel-inspired artwork takes root in Italy, France, Spain, and Morocco.

Bachelor of Fine Arts, The University of Houston

Master of Science in Architectural Studies, The University of Texas at Austin

Master of Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin

Teaching Assistant, UT Architectural Study Abroad Program, Oxford, England

Instructor, Art Workshops in Italy and France

Summer Art Retreat, Spain and Morocco