Out of the Ashes: In 2021, more than 500 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail were closed due to forest fires, and 194 trail miles burned. In 2023, I walked more than 150 of those miles of trail, an emotional and sensory challenge. In the heart of Lassen Volcanic National Park, where the smell of ash stung my nose and the landscape was burned beyond recognition, I couldn’t hold back my tears. Still, amid the devastation, there were moments of resilience and splashes of color, which this series will highlight.
Lady Like: The series is shaped by two vastly different hikes along the Arizona Trail–one in 2019, marked by a traumatic stalker experience, and another in 2024, which became an act of reclamation and catharsis. Through these works, I use artistic expression as a tool for healing, reimagining the trail’s narrative while exploring resilience, femininity, and the transformative power of nature. Each textile collage begins as a wool felting, my primary medium, and is then layered with satin, lace, ribbon, and embroidered embellishments–materials historically associated with femininity and domesticity. By embedding these elements into imagery of rugged, untamed landscapes dominated by hoodoos and cacti, I assert the right of women to exist in outdoor adventure spaces without fear or constraint.
Experiments with Color Freedom: Forever mesmerized by the work of the Impressionists, Fauvists, and Group of Seven, I play with color a lot in my painting practice. I’ve been exploring color theory and the ways in which color can be used to transmit emotions and memories. Recently, these experiments have migrated from the painting easel to my felted work, where I’ve been enjoying straying from realism while reimagining scenes from my backcountry travels.
Kris Grenier 