Ethan Cook
Ethan Cook, an artist based in New York, explores materialism and minimalism in his artwork, employing two primary mediums: woven canvas and handmade paper. Rather than adhering to the conventional approach of applying pigment to canvas through brushes, knives, or hands, Cook opts for a unique method. He weaves colored fabric panels on a four-harness loom, stitches them together, and stretches them onto bars to create his paintings.
In Cook's artistic process, the act of creating art becomes a harmonious blend of meditation and rhythmic motion. The immense loom, with its countless moving components and intricate processes, generates a symphony of actions that are both swift and unpredictable. These actions give rise to various idiosyncrasies, such as pulled threads or skipped knots, resulting in a diverse array of textures that unmistakably showcase the handmade nature of the works.