IN THE STUDIO WITH ARTIST IRMA SPENCER

IN BURANO, ITALY

THE BUTTERFLY

Every once in a while you stumble upon an artist whose life, studio and work so captivate you, that you can’t stop thinking about them… You wonder what inspires them? How did they learn their art? What is their next big project?

That is the case with Irma Spencer. She is a multimedia artist whose tiny studio, called Bruco e Pupa (Butterfly & Pupa), I found while strolling on the picturesque island of Burano, Italy.

COLORFUL BURANO, ITALY

This island is a short boat ride from the better-known island, Murano, and is famous for its bright colored homes. The legend is that in the old days, fishermen painted their homes bright colors so that in the fog (both weather and alcohol-induced), they could easily spot their homes.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATION

These days, the vivid-colored homes attract photographers and tourists, but they also inspire Irma. She owns Bruco e Pupa and it’s here where she showcases her ceramics and textiles that are every bit as bright as the homes that surround her studio.

IN THE STUDIO WITH ITALIAN ARTIST

IRMA SPENCER

As with every artist, some of her art pays the bills. This is the “bread and butter” work. For Irma it is miniature ceramic homes that reflect the vivid painted homes that Burano is famous for. People buy these miniature homes to use as holiday ornaments and souvenirs. It’s her textiles, however, that she loves to make– and it shows.

FUSING TEXTILES

Each scarf she makes is special. A combination of wool, silk and sometimes lace that she artfully twists, rolls, stretches, sews, and pulls to reveal an always unique piece of wearable art.

Irma never knows what each piece’s final form will be– it’s dictated by how the various types of material fuse (or sometimes don’t) together. Some pieces end up long and skinny and are used as scarves. Others are large squares and become blankets or wraps.

HANDMADE ART WITH SOUL

What I love about them is that they all have character and soul. Some have holes. Others are thinner in places and thicker in others. Each one is unlike anything else in the shop.

WORKING STUDIO

Bruco e Pupa is a true working studio and shop. Irma has tall chests of drawers for her finished ceramic houses and for her tools. She also has a kiln along one wall and textiles on the wall across. It’s first and foremost a studio– selling is a byproduct.

For more IN THE STUDIO interviews with artists and a look at their work spaces, go here.