Artist Jana Greiner will be in this year’s Beyond The Fringe. This piece is called “Blood sweat and tears”.

What drives you to create?
The drive to create is impossible to describe, to me it is like a new lover, it keeps me up at night. Each project is a fresh new puzzle to piece together.

Why did you choose fiber as your medium?
Fabric appeals to me because it is soft and hard to manipulate into an exact replica, therefore it keeps my expectations about the final outcome in check.

What kind of materials do you incorporate into your art? Where do you find them?
I have had a love for fabric my whole life, I have a huge collection. I like using recycled sheets, flour sacks, vintage fabric, old clothes, grocery bags and new cotton prints.

How much time do you typically invest in a piece?
It varies, some sculptures take a month, others a year, some times the construction phase takes less time than the figuring it out mentally phase.

What is your process to turn your artistic vision into the finished piece?
My first step in starting a new sculpture is piling up material, then i start to cut, sew and replicate shapes. These shapes decide the final composition of the piece. Sometimes I get obsessed with one pattern or shape and I keep making it till I have to stop.

What is the special meaning or message behind your work?
There is no special meaning to my work although it is therapeutic, it helps me work out difficult emotions.

Some artists create their art for therapy purposes. Does that apply to you?
yes

What artists do you admire most?
I’m stumped, I don’t have specific names but I admire anyone who is willing to express themselves in any medium and share it with the rest of us.

Where do you find inspiration?
I am inspired by nature, art, fabric, bikes, kids and architecture.

Do you have any upcoming projects or art shows this year?
I hope to display my new work soon.

How can people contact you?
Jana Greiner
P.O. Box 1977
El Prado, NM 87529

I am on Myspace as “asstrick”

This piece is called “Huck this!”