Room by Julie Woodard

In September 2020, I found myself alone on a Colorado mountaintop. Grieving the recent death of my mom, a difficult health diagnosis, and the loss of a job, I was in quite a state. I had climbed this peak in search of a lifeline. It was a chilly day, and I was wrapped in a coat that had belonged to my mom.

When I reached into a pocket, I was surprised to find a small scrap of paper with a handwritten message in my mom’s memorable scrawl: “If you want something new, you must stop doing something old.” I looked out at the magnificent landscape, took a deep breath, and felt a sudden sense of calm, of direction, of purpose.

Now, I have a musical mind, and even before I can get my hands working on a visual piece, my experiences frequently weave their way into original songs. As I descended the mountain that afternoon, a musical refrain started to form: “if you want something new, you must stop something old. It begins with a step, the rest will unfold. Save some room in your heart for the unimaginable, save some room in your heart.” Later that evening, the lyrics to my song, “Room,” were complete and the following day, the threads of a textile landscape began to take shape. 

Over the last 4 years, my mom’s words have served as my mantra and an affirmation of my artistic path. I’ve combined a decades-long interest in repurposing textiles with my love of the natural world. I have created landscapes out of old things–collaging together both family heirlooms and salvaged pre and post-consumer waste. I have shed old limiting beliefs and embraced a more expansive view of myself, my creative practice, and my community. First working at a smaller scale, my alpine lake series has continued to grow and unfold. For 4 months in 2024, I developed Room, my largest alpine lake to date. The turquoise lake creates a contemplative space to rest one's eyes in an otherwise field of color and texture. It features more whimsical elements than previous pieces, with the addition of tiny sculptural wildflowers I created from plastic container lids and hand-cut corks. It is both real and imagined. I hope Room brings you joy. I hope it inspires you to slow down, take a deep breath, and maybe even invite some space for something new to unfold in your life.

Shop Room and the rest of Julie's collection, click below

Julie Woodard Collection