The Evanston Art Center (EAC) is excited to welcome the public to Geo-science Embroidery featuring the works of Bonnie Peterson.
Peterson uses embroidery to investigate cultural and environmental issues. Mixing a variety of source materials such as scientific data and early explorer’s journals, she stitches words and phrases on velvet and silk fabrics to make large narrative wall hangings. Her recent projects examine geophysical climate issues. Instigated by a series of collaborations with scientists, Peterson began to look for simple explanations for some of the important principles in climate and environmental science to use in her projects.

Bonnie  found the interactions with scientists are invaluable for interpreting and extracting key concepts and clarifying their context and relevance. Wilderness experiences also inform Peterson’s work. Lengthy backpacking trips are significant to integrating the impacts of wilderness, contemporary society and historical context into her artistic process. Using Victorian crazy quilts and primitive samplers as a point of departure, the artwork provides a novel opportunity for the consideration of current events and ethical questions.