Waverly Street Gallery welcomes experimental fiber artist Deb Jansen. Born young, bald and without a major, one thing was evident from the start; some broken crayons, a little cardboard and some string could consume her for hours. The world was her art project.

Jansen’s current work is about energy, emotion and word play. Experimenting with raw silk fibers, hand felted wool, crocheted copper wire and a few shish kabob skewers, she holds it all together with a flurry of machine stitching, a little elbow grease, a dash of beadwork and at least a few healthy belly laughs.

“I like the way the fibers play off of each other,” Jansen states. “Starting with a single thread, the silk work is all frenetic energy, the wool is comforting and strong and the crocheted copper and wood pieces generate a calm, mythical glow. They have evolved their own strengths and have learned to play well together.”

After a successful career as a corporate graphic designer, Jansen works out of her studio at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town, Alexandria. She believes she has found her way back to the good stuff. “My hands and my heart are much happier. The world is again my art project.”