Michelle Raszl, a mother, educator, and librarian from The Berkshires of Massachusetts, has woven her art-making practice into the fabric of her life. As her children grow more independent, Michelle embraces this transition, allowing her to devote more energy, patience, and perseverance to her artistic pursuits.
Her work is deeply inspired by the natural world, as she explores the materials, structures, patterns, and textures found in her surroundings. Michelle develops her own inks and dyes using foraged materials. During her time at Azule, she experimented with eggshells, berries, tea, beet root, and onion skins to craft distinctive pigments, refining techniques for a larger, ongoing project.
Each ink cell weaves its own tale, symbolizing the flow of time and its own unique journey. She integrates threads passed down from her Grandmother’s collection, further shaping the concept of time’s passage. Michelle’s background as a librarian and an English Language Learning teacher also profoundly influences her artistic practice. The recurring motif of the grid in her work symbolizes the underlying framework of her beliefs and ideas.
As a career librarian, Michelle made special note of Azule’s extensive library, especially the rare and hard-to-find art books curated by Camille. The resources provided her with the opportunity to explore new art forms, enriching her own creative practice during her residency.
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You can visit Michelle’s website at michelleraszlart.com or follow her on Instagram @m.raszl.