Gina Telcocci

My artwork is rooted in a love of the physical world, and an irresistible urge to make. Humble materials are intrinsic to both the emotional tone and the ideas embodied in the work. I find simple, ancient techniques such as assemblage, basketry, joinery, sewing, etc., to be profoundly rich in meaning and feeling. The power of the thing made by hand, and the sensuality & physicality of the materials, convey much of the meaning in my work. Many of the materials I use – wood, willow, detritus - are organic or discarded, and are often “harvested” from the environs. The materials and the processes used to make an object become a record of my responses to the world. I hope my sculptures reflect shared human experiences of living in the world. I have been using basketry materials and techniques for more than 35 years. Drawn to the medium originally by my mom’s affinity for humble folk crafts, I found, early in my sculptural exploration, that the strands and woven patterns of basketry suited my obsessions with line, form, structure, and native materials. Currently in my studio I am offering workshops and classes in wicker basketry and beyond.

Gina Telcocci is a sculptor and installation artist in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her work has been exhibited widely across the US, in Mexico and South Korea. Public commissions include Potrero Hill Library, San Francisco, CA, Walnut Creek Library, and University of New Mexico/Los Alamos. Telcocci has won grants and awards from the Pollock Krasner Foundation, Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, and the City of Oakland. She received an M.F.A. from the University of Colorado/Boulder. She has taught 3 Dimensional Design and Sculpture, and is currently teaching basketry workshops in Santa Fe, NM. In addition to using basketry and wood assemblage techniques, Gina harvests organic materials, and incorporates urban detritus and found objects in her sculpture. Her artwork relies on abstract elements of form, structure, pattern, and surface. Humble materials are intrinsic to both the emotional tone and the ideas embodied in the work. Daughter of a jazz musician and backyard environmentalist, Telcocci’s sculpture is an improvisational response to the complexities of the human relationship to environment and culture.

3-D, Assemblage, Fiber Arts, Installation, Sculpture