Finding identity

Fiber artist Emily Sewell merges opposing concepts of the concrete versus the abstract, the body versus the spirit, in "Embodied," a retrospective of her work as a University of Hawaii art student from 2008 to 2011.

"These are very, very personal pieces to me," she said. "I was trying to find myself as an artist. I was falling in love with the materials. I was finding my spiritual voice."

While much of the exercise of creating the art fed her internal life, Sewell says the dominant theme of the show is "how my body played into the inspiration for my work."

Some of the pieces, such as quilts or a dress, literally serve as protective covering for the body. All the works, she says, were generated from her heart.

One particularly striking piece is a sculpture comprising delicate organza silk pods dyed with onion skins to create earthy coral hues. The bumps and "hills" of the work imply the existence of something beneath the surface.

Other pieces are created on Sewell’s handmade papers, stitched with colorful threads to create maplike designs, perhaps tracking the artist’s spiritual development or identity. She also hand-stitched patchwork quilts using remnant pieces of old fabric.

Some of the art in the show represents Sewell’s work as a performance artist, which provides her a different way to be expressive.

"Most of my pieces point inward; they’re intended for myself," she said. "With performance art I’m more exposed; it’s more about the public."

Though Sewell, 24, grew up in Denver, she says she fell instantly in love with Hawaii upon her first visit when she was in the seventh grade. She moved here as soon as it was possible, attending UH.

While Sewell holds down a day job at the Designers Loft at INspiration Furniture, she continues her artistic pursuits. She’s forming a band.

Most recently, Sewell created a wall installation for the 2013 Pow Wow Hawai‘i event in Kakaako. While much of the work of Pow Wow is graffiti-style, two-dimensional street art painted and sprayed on exterior walls, her piece depicting a habitat utilized fabric, leather, wood and cardboard.

Even as Sewell continues to explore and expand her range of expression, she says she remains, first and foremost, a fiber artist.