Jo Hamilton | New Work | Russo Lee Gallery | September 2017

Jo Hamilton’s crocheted portraiture is a distinctive combination of traditional technique with contemporary subject matter. Her subjects range broadly, with an enduring interest in portraiture, featuring people from many walks of life, including those she’s worked with in an AIDS care facility. Another focus is the nude and, for this show, she has also trained her eye on Portland’s rapidly changing skyline, crocheting images of ‘construction crane dominated cityscapes, questioning the pace of progress and change affecting our city, its architecture and its residents.’ Each piece is compelling and poignant, informed by the vivid color and complex detail of her process and the rich tradition and innovative approach to the crochet technique that informs them.