Polly Jacobs Giacchina creates fiber sculptures that evoke the natural world — large-scale wall hangings, vessels and abstractions that mimic ornate birds’ nests, botanical features and landscapes. Her primary material is date-palm seed frond, twined into intricate, undulating forms laced with colors derived from canvases she has painted, pared down into strips and woven into the piece. Also a jewelry artist and teacher, her work has been seen in galleries and museums around the country, including the Mingei in Balboa Park and Visions Art Quilt Gallery at Liberty Station. Jacobs Giacchina, 57, lives and works in La Mesa.
Q: Your technique seems like part of such an ancient tradition. Are you channeling some Kumeyaay woman when you work?
A: I am not. I think that it’s a wonderful technique and yes, it’s been used since the beginning of time, but I think I’ve sort of gotten to the point where I’ve transformed something into a more contemporary art form. It must have some connection because the technique is wonderful but I think I learned it and landed on it and then made it my own.
Q: Where do you get your material? Do you hunt and gather?
A: I do. The best thing is for me to be able to drive by and see tree trimmers working, because the last tree I actually got material from was next to, gosh, probably an eight-story building and it was that high. It took me about three carloads to get it back to my house because there was so much.
Q: Do you keep a big supply at your studio?
A: I always keep a large stock on hand and when I see it getting low, I have to go out with tall people — my husband’s six foot and we have a big, tall pole trimmer and we trim date palms.
Q: Do people give you sidelong glances when you’re doing that?
A: I almost always try to pick trees that are on private property so I can ask them if I can, and most likely it’s been watered, too, so the tree’s a little healthier. Yes, it’s a little odd. People will stop and say, “Well, why are you doing this?” And you know it’s great — you stop and talk to them. I love to show them what I’m doing with it because they’re just amazed at the transformation, what’s coming from the trimmings and leftovers of their yard, turning into something quite different.
Q: Do the pieces reveal themselves to you as you work or do you have a specific idea of what you want?
A: I think there’s definitely a mix of both. Over time I know what the materials can do; but on the other hand I don’t force it. I think there’s kind of an odd stage for everything, or an ugly stage, or what have I done? And I’ve spent so many hours on this already and now look at it. You have to weave past that point and let it sort of reveal itself instead of quit on it. Like this morning, I am working on a piece, a wall hanging, but then I cut it in half and I’m hanging it differently because it just didn’t look right. I tried something different on it to be honest, so it really wasn’t that pleasing to me so I cut it in half, hung it back on the wall in a different configuration.
Q: So after 30 years of working with fiber you’re still trying new things?
A: I hope to try new things for another 30. I really do; I just love it. It’s so rewarding. It’s almost hard to put into words the connection I have with it because I absolutely love doing it. S
Dream Weaver