America Is . . . Weavings

A black and white weaving on a black frame. Torn strips of paper with printed text surround a larger piece of paper with text.

The America is… weaving series by Ellis Angel is a contemplative exploration of what America means through the voices of its authors. Using shredded pages from books by Walt Whitman, Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Bishop, and others, Ellis Angel creates intricate weavings that capture the diverse and multifaceted nature of America. This series is both an homage to the literary giants whose works have shaped our understanding of this nation and a personal reflection on what America represents. The exercise invites viewers to consider how these authors have grappled with the American identity in their writings, and how their words continue to resonate today.

NEWS: The Calamus weaving will be on view at Baker University’s Holt Russell Gallery in Baldwin City, KS. The show runs from February 13th to April 5th 2024. If you happen to be in the area, a reception is scheduled for Tuesday February 20th 5-7pm.

More information can be found here.

An event poster for The Baker University National 2024 art exhibition at Holt Russell Gallery, February 13-April 5, 2024. The poster features a quilt with stars and stripes. It lists artists including John Affolter, Ellis Angel, Norman Aragon, and others. The artist reception is scheduled for February 20, 2024, from 5 to 7 pm.
“The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.”
— Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman Calamus Poems
A shredded paper weaving with a single piece of paper in the center with a text on it. Mounted on a black frame.
A shredded paper weaving with a single piece of paper in the center with a text on it. Mounted on a black frame.
A shredded paper weaving with a two pieces of paper in the center with a text on it. Mounted on a black frame.
Close-up of a piece of paper with the poem "One Art" visible. The paper is woven into a shredded paper weaving.
Close-up of torn paper strips with printed text, layered and overlapping, showing a portion of the text from a book.
Close-up of torn pieces of printed paper with text, some overlapping, revealing partial words and sentences.
A close up of a weaving on poetry. There is a center book page at the center with book text visible.
Close-up of shredded pieces of printed paper with text, arranged behind a white piece of paper. The paper at the center is from 'Leaves of Grass' and includes a poem from the book.
Close-up of torn paper with printed text in black on white paper. The text is torn and layered, with sections overlapping each other. The visible words include 'My Arkansas'.
Close-up of torn pages from a book meticulously arranged in a layered pattern, with visible text in black ink on aged, yellowish paper. The pages feature narrative lines and phrases, including commentary about women, cooking, and memories, creating a
Close-up image of shredded paper woven on a black frame with a single sheet of book paper woven in the middle.
Shredded paper weaving with a single book page titled 'My Arkansas' in the center.
Close-up of a piece of paper woven into a weaving with printed text from the Emma Lazarus 1883 sonnet "The New Colossus".
Close-up of a pieces of book paper woven into a shredded paper weaving.
Close-up of torn pieces of white paper with printed black text, arranged in a layered manner.
Close-up of torn pages from a book with visible text on white paper.