Art – KRISTY CAVARETTA

Woodcut Alphabet

In the fall of 2023; inspired by my mother’s traditional Norwegian Rosemaling; I gave myself the project of completing a decorative woodcut alphabet. In a little over two months I designed, carved, and printed 27 blocks. I learned to work at my kitchen table alongside my preschoolers and sketch while waiting at the bus stop. I’m thrilled with the result and the practice has me excited to dive back into my next series with confidence. Original prints are available in my shop.

English Muffin Moons

Phases of the moon, intaglio printed with the seals of peanut butter jars as printing plates, inspired by my childrens’ uneaten English Muffins.

Thoughts on Love

These little intaglio prints explore being in a relationship with someone that is no longer there. What does the love that is left behind look like? The cardboard wafers removed from the tops of tissue boxes were used as plates.

*Unrequited*; *Untethered*; *Unsuccessful;* *Unconditional*; 9×12” intaglio collagraph prints on paper

I am Home

These woodblock prints (22×30″) are an ongoing series about the paradox of motherhood. As a mother to three young children I have a great sense of pride in knowing that I am the embodiment of safety, nourishment, and security for them – the first face they look for in the morning and the hug that heals all wounds. At the same time I often find myself overwhelmed by the physicality of having them climbing on and clinging to my body all day. Inspired by the rocky coast of Southern Maine – where I often explore with my children – I look at the boulders covered in barnacles, seaweed, and snails and wonder, do they feel the same pride to have been chosen as the homes to protect these precious beings or do they some days miss the feeling of the waves crashing against their surface unobscured?

I find the process of carving a woodblock a meditative experience, as much art therapy as art making. The ability to be able to work in small pockets of available time lends itself to my specific phase of life and the materiality of wood often adds an element of unexpected mark making that I try to embrace as a reminder of the letting go that comes hand in hand with mothering.