Celeste Malvar-Stewart
Even the Smallest of Us: Addressing Global Insect Decline
132 S. Front St.
Artist Statement
My current work Even the Smallest of Us expresses one of my deepest environmental concerns: Global insect decline. It is my visual plea, asking us to consider how we impact insects in our day-to-day lives, staying mindful of how much we rely on them as vital pollinators, decomposers, regenerators and food for birds and other beings. In this work, in addition to creating my signature hand-felted and naturally dyed textiles, I explored combining various surface design techniques such as relief printing (using hand-carved woodblocks), hand-embroidery, and applique to create a couture gown covered with various images of insects that are currently endangered in Ohio. The gown also features Filipino terno or "butterfly" sleeves as a nod to my identity as a Filipina American as well as honoring the many species of butterflies that are currently endangered. Among the insects found on this piece are the Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly, the American Burying Beetle, Laricis Tree Cricket and the Karner Blue Butterfly.
Artist Bio
Celeste Malvar-Stewart is a Filipino American fashion and fibre artist who focuses on sustainable design, emphasizing the importance of slow fashion within one of the most harmful industries. She works with Ohio family farms to obtain luxury wool and alpaca fibre to create her hand-felted textiles and ethereal couture fashion, using all natural materials. She has exhibited her work in various museums and galleries, and is published worldwide. Celeste is a full-time independent artist and adjunct faculty at the Columbus College of Art and Design in the fashion department, as well as mentors several students and alumni. She is an international speaker on sustainable fashion, a Columbus Makes Art artist, and serves on the board of the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
