Made by Lynne Kornecki on Art beat
Naperville, IL resident and metal crochet artist, MARITA VALDIZAN, poses with her favorite tools amid her winsome creations. Scroll down to more of her artwork…
Metal crochet artist, Marita, joyfully describes her crochet hook as her “magic wand” leading to new adventures daily from designing wearable art and jewelry to producing mixed media “paintings” that are richly three-dimensional.
Growing up in Peru has influenced her artwork by imbuing it with a rich, cultural heritage of imagery heralding back centuries in legend and lore yet still feels contemporary.
“Every day, I wake up with the thought of creating something unique,” Marita states. “I’m always looking at everything that surrounds me and letting that influence my creativity.”
Using colored copper wire in all sizes, crochet hooks, markers, acrylics, fabric, or molding paste, she visually combines her ingredients guided by her own life experiences and distinct perspective. She also often incorporates Peruvian-based symbolic motifs into her work.
These ancient motifs include: Nazca Lines — a group of very large geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were created between 500 BC and AD 500 by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor; La Chakana—symbols from the original cultures of the Andes dating back more than 4,000 years to the slightly less exotic where she features present day birds of the Amazon.
Although she has enjoyed art since childhood, learning the Peruvian stitch technique directly from its creator, Juan Pacheco, fired up her imagination in entirely new ways. Quickly she realized its versatility and began adapting the technique into mixed media pieces.
As a result, Marita has earned kudos for her work locally and internationally. In Lima, during November 2018, her metal crochet artwork received an award from the Gran Estrella de Plata. The originator of the technique, Juan, himself, credited Marita as the only artist in the world currently using this technique in mixed media application.
Along with recognition and numerous awards, she recently received a first place in the wearable art category from the Crochet Guild of America. Additionally, she has been spotlighted in Volume VI of Today’s Inspired Latina where her chapter begins with her quote:
“We need to see the light in every storm.”
Whether that storm was the pandemic or simply the challenges of everyday life, art remains Marita’s touchstone – helping her grow as both an artist and a person. However, she adds that her values are also firmly rooted in the love she has for her family, and the importance of giving back to the community around her.
To find out more about Marita’s classes, workshops, and where her work can be seen or purchased, click: Marita Valdizan Art (waalay.com)