Pittsburgh artist Stefanie Zito is making a significant impact with her innovative use of natural dyes and a commitment to sustainability, creating art that reflects her experiences and the environment.
Pittsburgh artist Stefanie Zito is making a significant mark in the realm of mixed media art through her innovative use of natural dye materials, blending artistry with ecological practices. As a certified permaculture designer, Zito grows her own dye plants and incorporates them into her intricate three-dimensional weavings, establishing a unique connection to both her craft and the environment.
Zito’s work reflects a deep exploration of time and place, notions she frequently references during discussions about her art. She emphasizes time as a foundational element within her structures, weavings, paintings, and performances, while place resonates through the origins of her dye materials. The artist articulates this philosophy by stating that home for her is akin to “a study, a place-based deep-dive into self-change,” suggesting that her artistic expression is deeply rooted in her experiences in Pittsburgh.
Stefanie Zito’s journey is rooted in her nomadic childhood. Born in Chicago and raised in various locations globally due to her father’s job in international partnerships, she experienced the transient lifestyle firsthand. “I didn’t even have house plants,” she recalls, reflecting on her upbringing where instability taught her to let go of attachments. However, her recent self-identification as a permaculture designer seems to stand in contrast to her earlier tendencies, showcasing a significant personal evolution. Now, she cultivates dye plants at Garfield Community Farm, which has transformed nearly three acres of abandoned urban land into a thriving agricultural space over the last decade. “I have been connected with the farm with varying degrees of involvement since the very beginning when it was merely a seed of an idea,” Zito explained with a smile.
During the summer months, Zito utilizes her harvests for natural dyeing, gathering vibrant hues from marigolds, cosmos, coreopsis, Dyer’s Chamomile, weld, and more. She plans to incorporate madder root—a dye plant requiring a longer growth period—into her repertoire next year. Zito’s commitment to using diverse color sources underlines her artistic approach, which she describes as deeply intertwined with the natural world.
Her current artistic focus involves creating fiber sculptures that convey themes of temporality through titles such as “Between Mysteries,” “Life is Wide,” “Situated,” and “Interval.” Zito employs a double weave technique, allowing her to construct pieces that feature two layers of fabric woven together. “Weaving this way, I can push, shape, and manipulate form through the continuous cloth,” she expressed. This intricate method allows for a dynamic interplay of elements, reflecting the complexities of life, decay, and the passage of time.
Zito also engages with found or discarded materials, representing her commitment to sustainability and the idea of repurposing. “I want my art to represent the cycles of life and the fading and passing of people and time,” she articulated, underscoring her desire to weave narratives that celebrate relationships and interconnectedness.
Art has served as a constant throughout Zito’s life, providing a sense of stability amid change. She recalls her early creative endeavors, where her mother would often check if she wanted to keep items before discarding them, fostering a mindset focused on creating rather than consuming.
Zito’s work continues to evolve as she draws inspiration from her ecological practices, intertwining her creative process with themes of home, time, and the environment. Her passion for material exploration and the relationships that inform her art stand at the forefront of her creations. As she states on her website, her work is “materials-led, exploring ideas of home and the substance of time,” symbolizing a commitment to both artistic integrity and ecological consciousness.
Through her engaging textiles and thoughtful approach, Stefanie Zito embodies a vision of art that honors nature and the unique narratives of her Pittsburgh surroundings, inviting an ongoing dialogue about the significance of place and its impact on the human experience.
Source: Noah Wire Services
