Conceptual Materials Social Practice Artist
This soft fiber sculpture is inspired by my research into the traditional masquerade costumes of St. Croix’s Old Time Christmas Festival.
It represents “Pitchy Patchy,” a character known for wearing a suit of tattered, colorful fabric pieces. In the festival, Pitchy Patchy acts as an enforcer, maintaining order among the carnival masquerades and performers.
I’ve been diving into the world of natural dyeing, and I’m especially intrigued by banana leaf mordanting. This innovative and eco-friendly method uses the tannins and plant-based compounds in banana leaves to help dyes bind to fibers, creating subtle and earthy color variations. It’s a beautiful way to combine sustainability with creativity, and I can’t wait to try it out for myself!
To make this happen, I’m planning to grow my own banana trees. I’m in the process of choosing the perfect spot in my yard—a sunny area with well-draining soil is ideal since banana trees thrive in warmth and humidity. I also need to make sure the location is sheltered from strong winds to protect their large, delicate leaves and promote healthy growth and fruit production.
This is just the beginning of the journey, and I’ll share more updates as the planting season progresses. I’m looking forward to the day when I can harvest my own banana leaves and experiment with their dyeing magic! Stay tuned.
Discover the magic of materiality in my Textile Alchemy workshop! Learn to transform found and upcycled materials into stunning textile creations.
Embrace zero-waste creativity and innovation while seeing material in a new way. Finally use the art material you have been holding on to—sign up now and craft something extraordinary!
After The Dance is a vibrant homage to the spirit of Caribbean carnival festivities—a celebration of the transformative power of joy. This piece, crafted from wire, a beaded bib, chenille, ribbon, acrylic yarns, metallic rayon fabric, metallic yarn, and three-ply cotton rope, captures the kaleidoscope of color and movement that defines carnival.
The textures and materials intertwine to evoke the exuberance of masquerade costumes, the rhythm of soca and calypso, and the shimmer of sequins catching the sun.
Through this work, I reflect on the ephemeral yet profound nature of carnival. The piece is a snapshot of the moments “after the dance,” when the streets grow quieter but the energy of celebration lingers, echoing in our bodies and spirits.
After The Dance invites the viewer to celebrate the beauty of transformation, community, and the enduring cultural legacies carried forward through carnival—a vivid reminder that even in the aftermath, the spirit of the dance lives on.
In our increasingly waste-conscious world, finding creative ways to repurpose everyday items can inspire both art and sustainability. One such project is crafting a Kumihimo braiding tool from something many of us have lying around: empty pharmacy pill blister packaging. This unexpected material makes for a sturdy, flexible, and recyclable tool to create stunning braided cords.
Dates: Wednesday, June 18 – Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Group Size: Limited to 20 Participants
Book Now: Space is Limited!
Join us for an unforgettable week exploring the vibrant art, fascinating history, and breathtaking beauty of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This exclusive tour is packed with enriching activities and indulgent experiences, including:
Your stay includes accommodations at the beautiful Caravelle Hotel, offering a perfect blend of comfort and Caribbean charm.
As part of this immersive experience, you’ll also get to:
This unique opportunity is limited to just 20 participants, so don’t wait! Contact Norma Krieger at normakrieger@aol.com to reserve your spot today.
Come immerse yourself in the beauty, culture, and creativity of St. Croix. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Dates: October 9 – December 1
Location: Newark Museum of Art; 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ
Exhibition Dates: August 26- December 15
Location: Peeler Art Center at DePauw University; 204 E. Seminary St., Greencastle IN
When I’m Not Invited to the Party, I Throw a Little Fiesta for Myself
There’s something powerful about reclaiming joy, especially in spaces that feel exclusive or closed off. When I’m not invited to the party, I throw a little fiesta for myself—because joy, after all, is a form of resistance. This isn’t just about finding happiness but about creating my own space to celebrate life on my terms.
In my work, I built this Emotional Baggage Carts, layering vibrant colors, textures, and beads as a way to confront and carry the invisible weight of exclusion. But more than that, this cart is a declaration of self-worth and a release. This cart is a symbol of resilience—a reminder that even when the doors are closed, we still have the power to thrive.
Joy is transformative; it’s how we honor ourselves. By choosing joy, by dancing through our own fiestas, we reclaim the narrative and build new possibilities for ourselves—ones free from constraint, alive with self-love, and radiant with our own spirit.
“The Grass Is Greener” is a common idiom that expresses the idea that things always seem better, more desirable, or more appealing on the other side—often referring to someone else’s situation, possessions, or lifestyle. This phrase captures the human tendency to idealize what we don’t have and to believe that life would be better if we were in a different place or had different circumstances.
This suggests a sense of dissatisfaction with one’s current state, driven by the illusion that another situation might be more fulfilling or problem-free. However, it also implies that this perception may be misleading, as we are often unaware of the complexities and challenges that exist elsewhere.
This emotional baggage cart is filled with the weight of unmet expectations, the heavy burden of regret, and the frustration of chasing illusions. It carries the emotional toll of having uprooted oneself, either physically or mentally, in pursuit of something “better”—only to find that the new landscape is not as perfect as it seemed from a distance. This shopping cart serves as a metaphor for the journey of coming to terms with the complexities of desire and contentment, reminding us that fulfillment is often found not in the pursuit of what is elsewhere, but in the appreciation and tending to where we are now.
As I look forward to the completion of my studio, I can’t help but feel excited about the possibilities that will unfold once I finally have the space to work on projects I’ve only dreamed of. One of the things I’m eager to dive into is processing banana fibers. The idea of turning something so common in my environment into a material I can work with feels deeply satisfying—almost like a full-circle moment of creation.
Banana fibers are strong, flexible, and have such a beautiful, natural texture. But up until now, I’ve lacked the dedicated space to properly process them. Once the studio is built, I’ll have the room and the right environment to experiment, to let the fibers dry and cure, to extract them in ways that preserve their strength and integrity. In this new space, I’ll finally be able to explore the full potential of this material and see where it leads me artistically.
Stay tuned, because once this studio is up and running, I’ll be sharing the journey of working with banana fibers—and who knows what else will emerge in this new chapter of my creative practice!