Seeing some light

"Curtain".  Fiber optic cable, cotton. 2001. Lit with Halogen.

Same piece lit with LED.

Here are two different lightings of a fiber optic and cotton piece I wove for my graduate thesis: the first lit with a halogen bulb and the second with LED.  The halogen gave off so much heat that it required my husband to build a lightbox to house the bulb and protect the piece.  That was in 2001.  Since then, I've been trying to figure out a shortcut around the lightbox since it is bulky and prevents easily hanging the piece on a wall.  On a recommendation from a photographer who came to shoot some pics of me weaving for WNC magazine, my brother located a heavy duty LED tactical flashlight for me to try instead of the halogen.  The cardboard tube I use to funnel all the wefts into behind the piece still gets pretty warm and the battery only lasts two hours on full like this, but it's enough to inspire me to do a whole series of new fiber optic pieces.  Maybe now or maybe later...but eventually for sure!