It is through the repetitive act of weaving, and sometimes unweaving and reweaving, that Andrea Donnelly explores the connections of her mind and body. Each movement during the weaving process is recorded in the threads of each fabric.

Mindbody is the title of Donnelly’s solo exhibit, which is currently displayed at the Artspace visual arts center. The center is located in downtown Raleigh.  As the name suggests, Mindbody is an introspective examination of the physical body and mental presence of this artist and N.C. State alumna and the link between them. 

Though several of her pieces incorporate images of her body, the artist also conveys the physical half of her self through other means.  It is precisely how her art is made which allows the minute details in the art to tell a story.

The uniqueness of Donnelly’s work is in the medium she uses-hand woven cotton cloth.   

Each thread is the record of an action. Each flaw and kink convey the aspect of memory.  And these memories are chronologically layered until a single consciousness is recorded on the cloth.  This is the art of a weaver. 

Donnelly describes the cloth she makes as a “mental landscape, quietly inhabited.” 

While at the University, Donnelly earned degrees in both psychology and Art and Design.  It was around the time of her graduation that Lia Newman, Artspace director of programs and exhibits, noticed her work.

“I saw her work when she was still a student at N.C. State, or right after, and started to follow her,” Newman said.

As a graduating senior in 2006, Donnelly was the recipient of the prestigious Windgate fellowship,. The $15,000 fellowship is awarded to University seniors who show artistic promise and have the potential to make contributions to the advancement of their field, according to the fellowship’s website.

Donnelly continued her education at Virginia Commonwealth University, and earned a master’s degree of fine arts in fibers.  It is her education background—the combination of psychology, art and fiber—that defines the exhibit. 

According to Newman, the use of textiles creates a lot of interest in Donnelly’s work. 

“[The use of textiles] is an intriguing part of her work,” Newman said.  “People usually associate textiles with garments, but [Donnelly’s] work makes you think about how your body relates to textiles.”

She also recognized that it is not just the content of Donnelly’s work that is compelling, but the scale.  The massive pieces loom over the viewer, making them self aware and conscious of their physical and mental presence. 

“They make you think about your body and how they relate to textiles,” Newman said.  “The pieces are huge, and because they are fabric, they are flowing, not stiff.”

The flowing organic nature of the cloth makes the art more relatable, said Newman.

While Artspace usually reserves its exhibits for nonlocals, Donnelly’s work marks the first of several exhibitions featuring N.C. State graduates.

Donnelly’s exhibit has been on display since Feb. 4 and will remain exhibited until March 26.

She won’t be the last, though. Artist Greg Lindquist, an N.C. State graduate of 2003 with degrees in English and Art and Design, will have his work exhibited at Artspace in April. Lindquist, who now lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, described his art as depictions of “actions in the landscape that are not always obvious.” His work will come to Artspace in April.