Batik is a “dye-resist” process in which removable wax is applied to fabric, creating areas that will repel dye, while any unwaxed areas will absorb dye. This technique of dying textiles predates recorded history.
Mary Edna Fraser combines modern chemical Procion dyes, beeswax, and paraffin on silk to express a sense of place inherent in each scene. Her fascination with the distinctive features of various regions has led her to examine barrier islands, river deltas, mountains, glaciers, and threatened landscapes around the world.
She works from her own aerial photographs and memories of flight, gains technical precision as she examines maps and charts, and paints studies on location to develop potential color palettes for her batiks. Satellite and space imagery have further expanded her range of content.
Fraser brings a dramatic scale and complexity to batik; her art is unique to the ancient medium.