“Beach Glass,” textile, 44h x 39w, by Bonnie J. Smith
Santa Clara Branch 

Artist statement

“As a textile artist, I concentrate on what I see and know. Most important to me is the terrain that surrounds me.

In the last few years, I have been concentrating on the Pacific Ocean. After taking many photographs of the ocean in its many stages, I am sometimes overwhelmed with what is hiding beneath its waves.  

I was awed with an almost aerial city view when I took a photograph from a bluff at Moss Beach. After studying the image on my computer, I wondered if I could create artwork imaging beach glass lying on the ocean floor. This became the idea for Beach Glass. I have since used a similar pattern to recreate other locations that I have come upon in my photographic journey near my home. I have now created a series of four textiles using this image, altering it to accommodate the type of fabrics and the story I tell with the finished artwork.”