Diane Phares is an artist currently living in New Jersey, USA. Two of her works can be found in orangepeel Preserved.
op: Could you give us a quick introduction to yourself?
dp: I’m an artist, born in Brooklyn, now living in the countryside of New Jersey. I enjoyed a career as an art teacher and am now concentrating on my own art practice. Grateful to have the support of my artist husband, family, and friends.
op: What inspired you to create this “Women’s Work” series?
dp: I am inspired to paint strong women from my circle of friends and family. These two works are the first in the series intended to promote economic, social, and political equality for women. Each individual quilt pattern piece builds upon another to become whole, seen, and valued as are the women depicted.
op: Who do we see represented in the center squares of both quilts?
dp: For the first two pieces in this series, I took inspiration from important women in my life. The quilt pieces themselves are over 100 years old and were gifted to me years ago from a dear family member. Now they have a new life in a new era for women.
op: Are you primarily a quilter, or do you work in many mediums? If so, which is your favorite?
dp: Sewing and thread are often the binding elements of my work; however, I am not a quilter as such. I create painted pieces of canvas, stitch them together by hand or machine, add collage to works on paper, or use elements such as embroidery floss on painted works. My works are often comprised of multiple images that reference family history, women’s issues, and current events.
op: Lastly, what are three things you want us to know about you or your work?
dp: 1. Many of my paintings are pieced together by hand or machine stitching, referring to the work performed in sweatshops by my aunts who supported their family while the men served in World War II.
2. Anything can inspire me. I’ve started work on a series of monotypes entitled “Aprons” after reading about a female referee in a fútbol match who was told to stick to the kitchen.
3. My art can take any form: painting, printmaking, sculpture, bookmaking, etc., as I don’t restrict my work to a single medium.
orangepeel literary magazine 