Mary Bero – “Stuffed Head, Breathing Space”

Mary Bero, a self-taught artist, is interested in combining multiple techniques to create her intricate work.  “Stuffed Head, Breathing Space” made of silk, cotton, and polyfil is both painterly and sculptural.  Like many of her works, this piece features an iconic face:  the eyes stare out at the viewer and the face reflects her influence of masks in primitive art.  A relatively large work for Bero, the image measures 8.5 x 5.25 inches.  The face is covered in clouds and the “hair” looks like a rainbow of thread.  Bero is constantly challenging herself to start a work in a new way, calling this her “neo-vision.”  Always fresh, and never boring, close examination of the work of Mary Bero reveals her patience through countless tiny stitches in a dynamic arrangement.