Artist's Statement - Bonnie Britton   Artist’s Note – Distant Places – Cultural Spaces "In the summer of 1997 I took my second trip to study textiles.  I found the barren desert area around Nasca to be fascinating.  The weaving and ceramics from the Nasca culture seemed to speak to me like voices from three thousand years ago.  The memory of the mummies I discovered in the sand, wrapped in their bundles, the textile fragments blowing in the wind, and the skulls and shards scattered on the desert floor, will forever remain etched in my memory. I had the good fortune of being able to observe Ampado, the Ice Mummy with her beauty, youth and innocence still apparent after 500 years.  It is impressions from these Peruvian gravesites and archeological digs that influence my recent work. The textures and layers of fibrous hand cast papers, textile fragments, gold leaf, and other objects, are reminiscent of the mysteries of time, place, and culture, which are revealed in the unwrapping of mummy bundles.  These layers and embedded treasures can be read like the pages of a book or pictures of time.  My hand woven rugs and wall hangings are both a reflection and an exploration of place.  Physical, cultural, and emotional landscapes are my sources of inspiration.  The work acts as a venue to distant exotic places, while each place defines its own space, rich in color, texture, and bold design."