Art in the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library: Dobree Adams

Dobree Adams is recognized as one of Kentucky’s major contemporary artists.  She is a photographer, as well as a fiber artist; Adams uses her photography to show her influences for her handwoven tapestries and rugs, and now exhibits her photographs beside her weavings.  Adams and her husband Jonathan Greene live on a farm in Frankfort, Kentucky where they raise a rare breed of sheep – the Lincoln Longwool, an old British breed – that are known for the curl, length, and strength of their wool.  The artist spins and the dyes the wool (painted by hand) before weaving her creations.

Adams’ husband, Jonathan Greene, is a poet and a free-lance book designer as well as the publisher of Gnomon Press.  In many of the Adams’ shows, Greene’s poetry  accompanies her work.  One of their latest shows, Full Circle, was shown at the Headley-Whitney Museum in Lexington, KY in 2011.  This show was inspired by their trip to Japan in 1998, and based on Enso, or Zen Circle, the origin for the title.

(From the artist's website)

These works were shown at the Scott County Arts and Cultural Center in 2012.  A poem by Jonathan Greene from that exhibit is included with our display of the work.

"Bamboo" Florida (2011). Archival inkjet print.  Photo courtesy of Dobree Adams.

"Stelae" Florida (2011). Archival inkjet print.  Photo courtesy of Dobree Adams.

"TAKE" (Bamboo) WA Series Number Four (2011).  Handwoven of handspun wool yarn, naturally colored and handpainted, linen warp. Photo by Ashlee Chilton.

Detail of Take (Bamboo).  Photo by Ashlee Chilton.