ARTIST STATEMENT:

After retirement from the practice of Medicine I developed an interest in weaving and since then have been drawn to tapestry as an expression of my imagination. I find peace and relaxation in the solitude of designing and creating my tapestries.

I have worked mostly with 2-ply wool and cotton warp and have enjoyed the privilege of access to the many hand dyed wools at the Koehler studio in Santa Fe. My tapestries are woven on either a 42 inch Leclerc or a 46 inch Macomber loom. After the finishing touches each piece is photographed by Marcia Ward of the Image Maker studio in Denver.

It is difficult to express what inspires my designs. The mountains of Colorado in the morning or evening sun, the landscape of New Mexico, lasting impressions from our travels, the images of modern architectural designs or abstract art, all contribute to my concept of design using maximum color and minimum detail.

EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND

Klaus Anselm was born in Eastern Germany, later lived in Bavaria where he obtained his medical degree from the University of Munich. After moving to the United States he trained in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and practiced Gastroenterology until his retirement in 1999. While living in Southern Colorado, Klaus participated in activities at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, where is was also a member of the Board of Trustees.

Always interested in textiles, color and design he started weaving in 1998 after an initial weaving workshop in Pueblo, Colorado, then attended a workshop on tapestry weaving given by Rose Vigil and a workshop each on tapestry technique and color and design by James Koehler, all in Taos, New Mexico. Klaus Anselm also attended an advanced course on color and design at Penland School of Crafts in Asheville, North Carolina, also taught by James Koehler.

Klaus is a member of the Rocky Mountain Weavers Guild, the Hand Weavers Guild of Boulder, the American Tapestry Alliance and participates in the bi-monthly meetings of the Front Range Textile Designers Group.

Aside from his passion for tapestry weaving, Klaus Anselm is an avid traveler and a popular dog show judge.