detail: Susan Taber Avila, The Garden Wall 2009, 9′ x 30′ x 1′ — photo by Larry Gawel

Susan Taber Avila, Professor of Design at University California Davis held a 2010 solo exhibit at University of Nebraska Lincoln titled Oh Naturale. The video is of Ms Avila describing her working method and theme of the exhibit.

The layering of the fabrics, netting, stitching and text isn’t entirely clear in the photo, but in the video the structure becomes quite evident. The back layer is a digitally printed silk photo of a garden wall in Berkeley. The middle layer is laser-cut leaves on a grid. The machine-embroidered text are words describing what makes us happy — what we wish for in an Eden-like garden. There is text of the subject lines in email spam Ms Avila has collected. The lines promise ways to make us happy, strong, rich, powerful.

The entire video is just over 14 minutes and continues her talk of other pieces in the show. It is an excellent example of what an artist is thinking about when creating work.

Does anyone know of other artists influenced or taught by Ms Avila? Please comment if you do.